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White Matter

All articles tagged with #white matter

Spine Bone Density May Predict Rate of Cognitive Decline
health10 days ago

Spine Bone Density May Predict Rate of Cognitive Decline

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that lower bone density in the spine is associated with faster cognitive decline and deterioration of brain white matter. The study suggests that routine chest CT scans, often used for lung cancer screening, could serve as an opportunistic tool to identify individuals at higher risk for accelerated brain aging. While low bone density does not cause cognitive issues, it may act as a marker for shared biological aging processes, such as inflammation and vascular problems, potentially allowing for earlier intervention.

via New York Post|
#aging#bone-density#cognitive-decline
Fat’s Location in the Body Could Speed Up Brain Aging, New Study Finds
science2 months ago

Fat’s Location in the Body Could Speed Up Brain Aging, New Study Finds

A large UK Biobank study published in Nature Mental Health (2025) links where fat sits on the body to brain aging: visceral fat around organs is directly associated with faster brain aging and white-matter damage, while fat in arms/legs/trunk shows distinct brain-system effects. Inflammation and insulin-glucose pathways are suspected mediators. The findings suggest reducing visceral fat could help prevent neurodegenerative disease, but the study is observational and not causal.

via Yahoo|
#adiposity-distribution#brain-aging#inflammation
Fat Geography Ties to Brain Aging, Large Multimodal Study Finds
science2 months ago

Fat Geography Ties to Brain Aging, Large Multimodal Study Finds

A large multimodal study using UK Biobank data (18,000+ participants) links where fat is stored to brain aging: visceral adipose tissue around organs correlates with white-matter damage and faster brain aging via inflammatory and insulin–glucose pathways, while fat in arms, legs, or trunk shows different brain-system effects. BMI alone misses these risks. The findings suggest reducing visceral fat through targeted lifestyle changes could help prevent neurodegenerative disease, but the study is observational and cannot prove causality; published in Nature Mental Health (2025).

via ScienceAlert|
#brain-aging#fat-distribution#neuroinflammation
Aged white matter harbors a reversible senescent DAM microglia state linked to GAL3 signaling
science3 months ago

Aged white matter harbors a reversible senescent DAM microglia state linked to GAL3 signaling

In naturally aged mice, hippocampal-adjacent white matter accumulates a microglial population that co-expresses senescence and disease-associated microglia (DAM) markers, notably GAL3/Lgals3, defining a white matter–exclusive SenBrain-DAM state enriched in fimbria. Spatial profiling across IMC, GeoMx DSP and CosMx SMI reveals multiple age-related trajectories from homeostatic microglia to DAM and senescent states, with GAL3+ cells marking a prominent age-excluded subset. Systemic senotherapeutics targeting p16 (AP20187) or BCL2 (venetoclax) reduce GAL3+ DAM markers, lower p16, and restore microglial organization and morphology toward a youthful pattern in aged fimbria, including reduced APOE+ GAL3+ cell density and altered microglia–fiber tract alignment. These findings suggest a partially reversible senescence–DAM microglial phenotype in aging white matter and highlight GAL3/Lgals3 as a potential biomarker and target to mitigate white matter–related cognitive decline.

via Nature|
#aging#dam#microglia
Study Finds Type 2 Diabetes Speeds Up Brain Shrinkage
health1 year ago

Study Finds Type 2 Diabetes Speeds Up Brain Shrinkage

A long-term study by Johns Hopkins University has found that individuals with type 2 diabetes experience accelerated brain shrinkage, particularly in white matter, increasing their risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by 41%. The study also highlights a synergistic relationship between diabetes and amyloid plaques, further elevating the risk of cognitive decline. The findings suggest that managing diabetes could reduce the risk of Alzheimer's dementia, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions for those at risk. The study, which tracked participants over 27 years, was published in JAMA Network.

via ScienceAlert|
#alzheimers-disease#brain-shrinkage#cognitive-decline
"Link Found Between High BMI and Reduced Brain White Matter"
health-neuroscience2 years ago

"Link Found Between High BMI and Reduced Brain White Matter"

A recent study published in Health Data Science reveals that high cumulative body mass index (BMI) is associated with smaller brain volume, larger white matter lesions, and abnormal microstructural integrity, particularly in adults under 45 and over 60. The research emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy BMI throughout adulthood for optimal brain health, recommending a BMI below 26.2 for better neurological outcomes. The study utilized neuroimaging data and genetic analysis to establish causal relationships between high BMI and adverse brain health effects, highlighting the need for public health strategies to control BMI for improved neurological outcomes.

via Neuroscience News|
#bmi#brain-health#health-neuroscience
The Impact of Cannabis on Brain Structure and Mental Health
health2 years ago

The Impact of Cannabis on Brain Structure and Mental Health

A comprehensive analysis of previous research has found significant differences in the brain's white matter between regular cannabis users and non-users. The study, which reviewed 30 studies involving 2,898 participants, revealed that cannabis users generally showed lower integrity in the superior longitudinal fasciculus, a key nerve bundle associated with executive functions, and higher mean diffusivity in the corpus callosum, which connects the brain's two hemispheres. These changes were more pronounced in those who started using cannabis at a younger age and for longer periods. However, the research also highlighted the need for more standardized methods of measuring cannabis use and longitudinal studies to better understand the impact of cannabis on the brain's white matter.

via PsyPost|
#brain-function#cannabis-use#health
The Impact of the Menstrual Cycle on Cognitive Function: Debunking the Myth of "Mom Brain"
health3 years ago

The Impact of the Menstrual Cycle on Cognitive Function: Debunking the Myth of "Mom Brain"

A study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara suggests that hormones fluctuating throughout the menstrual cycle may lead to changes in the brain's structure. The study examined the brain structure of 30 women throughout their menstrual cycles and found that these changes correlated with fluctuations in four hormones. While the impact of these brain changes on cognition or the risk of brain diseases is still unknown, the research highlights the effects of menstrual cycle hormones on the brain and emphasizes the need for more studies focused on people who menstruate.

via Livescience.com|
#brain-structure#health#hormones
"Mysterious Brain Signals Leave Scientists Perplexed"
science3 years ago

"Mysterious Brain Signals Leave Scientists Perplexed"

Scientists have discovered brain signals in the white matter of the brain, which is primarily made up of axons that connect brain cells. These signals, known as blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) signals, were observed to increase during different tasks, but the cause and significance of this increase are still unknown. The researchers hope that further understanding of these white matter brain signals will help in addressing health issues such as Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy.

via BGR|
#brain#health-issues#research
Mysterious Signals Emerge from Human Brain's White Matter
science-and-technology3 years ago

Mysterious Signals Emerge from Human Brain's White Matter

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered a powerful and unexplained signal in the white matter of the human brain. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the team observed increased blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) signals in the white matter when individuals performed tasks. This finding challenges the traditional focus on gray matter and suggests that white matter plays a crucial role in brain disorders such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Further investigation is needed to understand the biological underpinnings of these changes and their implications for brain function.

via Study Finds|
#brain#fmri#neuroscience
Unveiling the Hidden Power of White Matter in the Brain
neuroscience3 years ago

Unveiling the Hidden Power of White Matter in the Brain

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at Vanderbilt University has used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to detect significant brain activity in white matter, challenging the conventional focus on gray matter. The study observed increased blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) signals in white matter when subjects performed tasks, suggesting the potential importance of white matter in understanding various brain disorders. The researchers aim to further investigate these white matter signals and their biological basis, as well as their implications for brain function and connectivity.

via Neuroscience News|
#brain-activity#brain-disorders#connectivity