Your brain shrinks by 5 percent each decade after 40

Health
Your brain shrinks by 5 percent each decade after 40

After age 40, the human brain naturally shrinks by 5% each decade, yet lifestyle choices and plasticity offer ways to preserve cognitive function.

After age 40, the human brain naturally shrinks by about 5 percent per decade, a process observed in neuroimaging studies. This volume loss primarily affects gray and white matter, accelerating slightly after 60. While a normal part of aging, this shrinkage correlates with subtle declines in processing speed and memory.

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