All articles tagged with #grey matter
A 12-year observational study of 1,647 adults finds that higher adherence to the MIND diet is associated with slower grey matter loss and reduced ventricular enlargement, equivalent to delaying brain aging by 2.5 years. While berries and poultry showed strong protective effects, whole grains unexpectedly correlated with faster decline, and cheese showed benefits despite being a MIND-restricted food.
A study of 2,044 older adults (median age 69) found that higher blood vitamin C levels are associated with healthier brain structure—higher grey matter volume—and stronger connectivity in the brain's default mode network on MRI, even after adjusting for age and health factors. The study is observational (cross-sectional), so it shows association, not causation, and researchers caution that vitamin C is not a dementia cure. The article notes vitamin C’s antioxidant role and involvement in neurotransmitter production, and suggests obtaining vitamin C through a balanced diet (e.g., citrus, amla, guava, kiwifruit, peppers, leafy greens) rather than unsupervised supplementation.
A large observational study found that adherence to the MIND diet—an blend of Mediterranean and DASH principles focused on brain-healthy foods like berries, leafy greens, fish, poultry, whole grains, olive oil, and nuts—was associated with slower brain aging over about 12 years, including reduced gray-matter loss and slower enlargement of brain ventricles, equating to roughly a 2.5-year delay. The effect appears tied to overall dietary pattern rather than a single food, but causation can’t be proven.
A large longitudinal study of 127 first‑time mothers finds pregnancy reduces grey‑matter volume in regions tied to emotion, empathy, and social perception—an effect linked to estrogen that begins before birth and largely recovers by six months postpartum. The pattern, which mirrors adolescent brain changes, suggests pregnancy primes the maternal brain for infant care, with some lasting brain changes detectable years later.
A large study scanned 127 pregnant women before, during, and after pregnancy and found an average ~5% reduction in grey matter, especially in the default mode network linked to self-perception, empathy, and social behavior. The grey matter then partially rebounds by six months post-birth. Researchers suggest the pruning reflects brain ‘rewiring’ to prime women for motherhood, potentially enhancing caregiving and bonding, with hormone changes (e.g., estrogen) likely contributing. The work reframes pregnancy-associated brain changes as adaptive rather than simply memory decline, though more research is needed and implications for postpartum mental health are being explored.
A Cambridge-led study using UK Biobank data links menopause to reduced grey-matter volume in key brain regions (hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, anterior cingulate) and to higher anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. Hormone replacement therapy does not prevent these brain or mood changes, though it may slow the decline in reaction times; memory tasks showed no major deficits. Postmenopausal women also reported more sleep issues and greater tiredness, and those on HRT had similar sleep duration but felt more fatigued. The findings raise questions about dementia risk given the regions affected and suggest the benefits of healthy lifestyle during menopause.
A study from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience reveals a strong link between reduced grey matter in the brain and Early Onset Psychosis (EOP), with individuals displaying lower grey matter volume across various brain regions. This extensive brain imaging study, the largest of its kind in EOP, could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment monitoring for EOP patients, offering unprecedented detail about the illness and potential for future diagnostic use.
Inflammation in the brain's barrier, known as the meninges, may contribute to the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study in mice. Using spatial transcriptomics, researchers found evidence of immune genes and inflammatory markers transitioning from the meninges into the adjacent brain tissue. This inflammation within the meninges, present in all types of MS, is suggested to play a role in nerve demyelination, loss of new neurites, and decrease in grey matter volume. The study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of brain damage in MS and highlights the need for further research using human samples.
Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the impacts of fibromyalgia on the brain's grey and white matter. They found reduced grey matter volume in the pain-processing areas of fibromyalgia patients and altered signal transmission in the thalamus, a critical hub in the pain processing network. These changes in brain structure correlated with patients' pain perception and behavior and might be influenced by factors such as physical activity and mental health, suggesting potential reversibility.
A study conducted by the University of Geneva, HES-SO Geneva, and EPFL has found that practicing and listening to music can alter cognitive decline in healthy seniors by stimulating the production of grey matter. The study followed over 100 retired people who had never practiced music before and enrolled them in piano and music awareness training for six months. Positive impacts have been measured on working memory, and the results open new prospects for the support of healthy aging.
A review of international publications by researchers from IFHE University, Hyderabad, found that even mild Covid-19 infection can shrink the brain by up to 2%. Covid-19 patients with even minor symptoms lose anywhere from 0.2% to 2% of their olfactory cortex, and also show disrupted connections between different brain regions. The study noted that after being infected with Covid-19, participants' brains were found to be smaller than they were before they were infected. Prolonged neurological clinical consequences related to brain changes occur in people with mild Covid-19 infection, and patients after a severe clinical condition of Covid-19 show deepening of persistent neurological signs.