Scientists from the University of California at Davis found that since 1930, the volume of the human brain has been constantly increasing.
This information was reported by T4, URA-Inform reports.
The researchers used brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the brain volume of 5,209 men and women aged 30 to 62 years. It is noted that MRIs were carried out in the period from 1999 to 2019. Study participants were born between the 1930s and 1970s.
The results showed that the average brain volume of those born in the 1930s was 1,234 milliliters. In people born in the 1970s, this figure rose to 1,321 milliliters, an increase of about 6.6%.
In addition, the average cortical surface area of the brain in people born in 1970s, was almost 15 percent higher compared to those born four decades earlier.
Experts noted that this change provides increased protection against age-related dementia. Scientists also found that increased brain volume correlates with a reduced risk of developing dementia in younger generations.
As a result, the researchers concluded that such “hypertrophy” creates greater cognitive reserve to prevent age-related decline in attention, memory, reaction speed and other skills.
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