1 of 2 From the age of 40, the human brain undergoes radical reconfigurations Photo: Getty Images/Via BBC From the age of 40, the human brain undergoes radical reconfigurations Photo: Getty Images/Via BBC
As the human body ages, it more or less gradually loses its physical capabilities.
Especially between the ages of 40 and 50 (a period that doctors call the “fifth decade”), various organs in our body begin to deteriorate. For example, we lose muscle mass, vision deteriorates and joints fail.
But in the brain the process is slightly different.
This is not just a process of progressive deterioration, but rather a kind of reconfiguration of the internal “wiring”.
This is the conclusion reached by a team of researchers from Monash University in Australia, who analyzed more than 150 studies on the aging of our bodies and, in particular, our brains.
“Although the brain only makes up 2% of our body, it consumes 20% of the glucose that enters our body. However, as it ages, it loses the ability to absorb this nutrient,” explains neuroscientist Sharna Jamadar to BBC News Mundo Monash University.
“What the brain is doing is sort of reengineering its systems to make the best use of the nutrients it can now absorb,” she explains.
According to scientists, this process is “radical”. As a result, the different neuronal networks become more integrated in the following years, which affects the cognitive process.
2 of 2 Reconfiguration causes the brain to lose the ability to perfect its most basic functions Photo: Getty Images/Via BBC Reconfiguration causes the brain to lose the ability to perfect its most basic functions Photo: Getty Images/Via BBC
What surprised the researchers, however, was that in some of the cases studied, this “rewiring” managed to create a kind of resistance to brain aging.
“It is important to know the processes that occur in our minds in order to understand how we can delay brain aging,” explains Jamadar.
One of the most important achievements of neuroscientists in recent decades has been to understand to some extent how the brain works.
The main conclusion is that our brain consists of a complex network of units, which are in turn divided into regions, subregions and, in some cases, individual neurons.
“Against this background, this network and its units are in a process of high connectivity during our growth and youth, which is reflected, for example, in the learning of specific topics,” emphasizes the neuroscientist.
For this reason, at this age it is easier to learn specific sports, new languages and generally develop our skills.
However, according to analysis by the Monash University team led by Hamish Deery, these circuits change radically as we reach the 40s.
“The result is less flexible thinking, less reaction inhibition and reduced verbal and numerical thinking,” explains Jamadar.
She adds that “these changes are being observed in people in this socalled fifth decade, which is consistent with findings that connectivity changes in these networks peak as you move from 40 to 50.”
This is because the tours are more related to the networks that address general and nonspecific topics, as was the case in previous years.
“It is as if before the age of 40 the circuits went through the brain units that were connected to very sophisticated networks,” says the neuroscientist. “After 40, we see that circuits connect to all circuits with almost no discrimination.”
Aging resistance
However, the scientist emphasizes that the study also showed that these radical changes ultimately help us counteract the passage of time in the brain, as shown by some cases studied in various research.
“The important thing about this discovery is that it provides us with tools to begin exploring how this resistance is achieved, which is fundamental to finding a solution to brain aging,” said Jamadar.
In this sense, one of the aspects that we have noticed is that tasks based on automatic or frequently repetitive processes, practiced throughout life, become less impaired or can even improve.
“Subjects such as language or others that we learn in general and that are useful in our daily lives can even improve over the years,” says the researcher.
Since nutrient optimization is one of the reasons for radical changes in the “wiring” of the brain, the most important recommendation for maintaining brain health as we age is to eat a healthy diet and exercise. With this in mind, it is recommended to consume foods such as nuts, avocado and other vegetables.
“The brain will use glucose in smaller quantities and less efficiently,” explains Jamadar, “so the foods we eat have a direct impact on our brain health.”
She therefore also recommends mental exercises such as crossword puzzles and other memory games. They allow these networks to remain active even when they are no longer as strongly connected to each other.