Changes in the Aging Brain

As a person gets older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain.

• Certain parts of the brain shrink, especially those important to learning and other complex mental activities.
• In certain brain regions, communication between neurons (nerve cells) can be reduced.
• Blood flow in the brain may also decrease.
• Inflammation, which occurs when the body responds to an injury or disease, may increase.

These changes in the brain can affect mental function, even in healthy older people. For example, some older adults find that they don't do as well as younger people on complex memory or learning tests. Given enough time, though, they can do as well. There is growing evidence that the brain remains "plastic"—able to adapt to new challenges and tasks—as people age.

It is not clear why some people think well as they get older while others do not. One possible reason is "cognitive reserve," the brain's ability to work well even when some part of it is disrupted. People with more education seem to have more cognitive reserve than others.

Some brain changes, like those associated with Alzheimer's disease, are NOT a normal part of aging. Talk with your healthcare provider if you are concerned.