A recent study from the University of California, Davis suggests that human brains may be getting larger over time, which could have significant implications for the future of dementia care. Researchers found that individuals born in the 1970s had 6.6% larger brain volumes and 15% larger brain surface compared to those born in the 1930s.
According to study author Charles DeCarli, a neurology professor at UC Davis, external factors such as health, social, cultural, and educational influences may also play a role in determining brain size alongside genetics. The increased brain volume observed in more recent generations could indicate improved brain development and long-term brain health.
This trend towards larger brain sizes may be linked to a decreased risk of dementia, as indicated by a 20% decrease in dementia incidence per decade since the 1970s. A larger brain reserve, resulting from increased brain size, may help protect against age-related brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.
In addition to brain size, other studies have identified personality traits and external factors like air pollution, alcohol consumption, and diabetes as potential indicators for dementia risk. Maintaining a positive attitude, high conscientiousness, and social engagement could help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
