The Aging Brain 1

The Aging Brain

Allison Barnhart

University of Cincinnati
The Aging Brain 2
Abstract

Aging is something we all worry about. It can affect us physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Addressing the physical aspect of aging at the microscopic level. This is important because our

brains are who we are. Strengthening the brain is an important part of slowing the aging process.

We will be looking at how our brains degenerate and have plasticity. We will also investigate

what you can do to extend the life of your brain. By looking at multiple studies that explained

why our brains are part of the aging process, we can see that exercise and cognitive training can

prolong the aging process. Age related diseases have a huge impact on society. They can affect

anyone and there is no cure. Neurotransmitters and hormones play a large role in the aging of the

brain. These decrease over time along with synapses and connections in the brain.

The Aging Brain

The Aging Brain 3
A simple definition of aging is changes that occur in an individual over time. There are

many physical and psychological changes that happen. Aging in the brain can mean many things.

In most cases it leads to slight memory deficiency and loss of complex cognitive thinking

(Peters, R. (2006, February). Eventually aging of the body and brain leads to death. There are

ways to seemingly combat early aging of the brain. Exercise and problem solving can increase

our memory and extend the life of the brain.

There are many effects in the brain from aging. At a physical level the brain shrinks,

blood flow decreases, and communication between neurons can be reduced. A reason for these

effects are stress and heart health. Grey and white matter in the brain also shrink. This is most

likely to occur from neuronal cell death. An increase of cell death and decrease of neuronal

communication can lead to memory complications (Peters, R. (2006, February). An older but

healthy brain can complete complex memory tasks if given enough time. Memory loss is a huge

part of aging in the brain. Working memory can start declining as early as 30 years old. It is the

fluid intelligence that decreases with age.

Causes of aging in the brain can be drawn from physical aging, diet, cognitive diseases

and more. Genetics, neurotransmitters, hormones, and experience all can lead to brain aging.

Education and environment can also be influences in the aging of the brain. Studies have shown

that changes in the brain are not uniform across all brain regions. Poor diet and exercise are

shown to be unhealthy for the brain (Godman, H. (2018, April 5). This causes synaptic changes

and can lead to earlier aging of the brain. Perhaps the most well known cause of aging in the

brain are neurotransmitters. Dopamine and serotonin levels both decrease with age. These

neurotransmitters both have roles in cognitive function and plasticity of the brain. When these
The Aging Brain 4
decrease synapses and receptors are reduced along with calcium dysregulation. All of these are

large factors in aging of the brain.

As people age their brains change. Changes can be seen at a cognitive, structural,

neuronal, and chemical level (Heart Health and Aging). Cognitively the memory is where the

most change happens. Declarative memory, knowledge of facts and life events, declines with

age. Procedural memory however does not decline as much. This is the memory that helps

complete tasks without conscious awareness. The brain structurally ages as well. Shrinkage and

thinning both dramatically change the brain. Fibers in the brain that connect to the spinal cord

have the steepest decline with age. Synapses, the connections in the brain, decrease in number

which leads to effects in learning and memory (How the Aging Brain Affects Thinking.). Along

with synapses, the brain can no longer create the same amount of new neurons. With less

receptors there are less places to bind dopamine and serotonin which can cause memory loss.

Age related diseases increase exponentially with age. Alzheimer's disease effects that

brain in an atypical way. This disease destroys memories and cognitive functioning. It is a

progressive disease and might be diagnosed late. Brain cells and connections degenerate and

eventually die (Isashitzky@dana.org. (2019, September 12). This causes issues in brain

functioning. It also causes the brain to shrink. Something that is not known about aging is why

everyone's brain decreases at different times. For most people there is a steady decline in

cognitive functioning past age 30. Some people show no signs of an aging brain until much

older. There has been a lot of research put into this topic. There have been drastic measures taken

to preserve the brain and body. Radical treatments and cryonics have been used but there is no

evidence showing that these work to restore the mind.

The Aging Brain 5
In conclusion, some say that aging is a disease. Aging is a natural process that

occurs to everyone. They only difference is the progression of these results. As time goes on our

brain will naturally lose plasticity. Our cognitive functioning will decline and memories will start

to fade. Part of this is genetics but we can do something to combat the aging. Exercise and diet

are very important for our health. Studies have shown that people who exercise have brains that

are not decreasing as fast.

References
The Aging Brain 6
Peters, R. (2006, February). Ageing and the brain. Retrieved from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2596698/.

How the Aging Brain Affects Thinking. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-aging-brain-affects-thinking.

How the Brain Changes With Age. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.brainfacts.org/thinking-

sensing-and-behaving/aging/2019/how-the-brain-changes-with-age-083019.

Heart Health and Aging. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/heart-health-and-

aging.

Isashitzky@dana.org. (2019, September 12). Cognitive Skills and the Aging Brain: What to

Expect. Retrieved from https://www.dana.org/article/cognitive-skills-and-the-aging-brain-what-

to-expect/.

Godman, H. (2018, April 5). Regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory, thinking

skills. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-

improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110.