How does the brain change with age?

Most people notice subtle changes in their cognitive abilities as they get older. It may take longer to think through a problem or make a calculation. Memory also may be affected. Older adults often report having increasing difficulty with short-term memory, such as forgetting where they left the car keys. They also may falter as they try to recall someone's name or a familiar word that is "on the tip of the tongue."

These changes occur to some degree in just about everyone, but they don't necessarily signal a serious medical condition such as Alzheimer's disease.

Along with these cognitive changes, there are physical changes that occur in the brain. The brain shrinks in size, and brain cells (neurons) in certain areas atrophy or become faulty. These age-related changes are most likely responsible for some of the declines in cognitive abilities. However, the exact mechanisms for how this takes place are not entirely clear and are the subject of much current research.

In May 2006, the American Federation for Aging Research hosted a conference on imaging and the aging brain. You can view the complete eBriefing here. You can also read a summary on the AFAR web site, here.

Research on the neurobiology of aging is a large and growing field, which has begun to shed some light on what happens to the mental abilities of adults as they grow older. Some previously held beliefs have been shown to be incorrect. For example, aging does not entail a steady decline in mental and physical function as more and more brain cells die. Throughout life, including old age, cognitive development undergoes both gains and losses. Older adults can even take steps to minimize their chances of suffering cognitive decline by keeping their minds and bodies active. As this growing body of research demonstrates, the brain is a complex organ that is both adaptable and modifiable.

Visit our Basics pages to learn about the cognitive and physical changes that happen to the brain as we age, as well as how scientists study the aging brain.

You can learn about new advances in the diagnosis and imaging of dementia and age-related brain changes in our What's Hot pages. The genetics behind brain aging are also the focus of considerable research.

For an overview of recent developments in the field, see our Ask the Expert article featuring Eric Reiman, MD, Executive Director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute.

Content on Infoaging is constantly reviewed and updated by leading researchers specializing in the biology of aging and the diseases of aging. For a list of our content experts, click here.