All articles tagged with #gray matter
A study found that wearing rose scent oil for a month can increase gray matter volume in specific brain regions, particularly the posterior cingulate cortex, which is linked to memory and association. This suggests that certain scents might influence brain structure and could have potential in preventing neurodegenerative conditions like dementia, although more research is needed.
A study demonstrates that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can lead to structural changes in the brain, specifically increasing gray matter volume in areas associated with emotion processing, such as the amygdala and hippocampus, in patients with depression.
Higher prenatal exposure to certain phthalates, commonly found in commercial products, has been linked to reduced gray matter in children's brains by age 10 and decreased IQ levels at age 14. The study found that alterations in gray matter volumes partially explain the connection between phthalate exposure and lower IQ. Additionally, prenatal exposure was associated with decreased white matter volumes in female children. The widespread exposure to phthalates and lax regulations raise significant public health concerns.
A study published in Neuroimage: Reports found that music lessons can increase gray matter in several brain regions of older adults, regardless of the type of music lesson. The research suggests that music learning could be a non-pharmacological treatment for age-related cognitive decline. The study involved 132 participants who underwent MRI scans and cognitive assessments before and after six months of music lessons. Both the music intervention group and the control group showed an increase in cerebellar gray matter volume. The group taking piano lessons also demonstrated improved tonal working memory. The study highlights the potential of music interventions as a non-pharmacological approach to improve cognitive function in older adults.
Heavy drinking during adolescence can lead to thinner cortical gray matter and altered neurotransmission in adulthood, according to a recent study. The research, which utilized MRI and TMS-EEG technology, found that young adults with a history of heavy drinking exhibited lower gray matter thickness and increased N45 potential, indicative of inhibitory GABA and excitatory glutamate neurotransmitter activity. The study highlights the long-term, detrimental impact of adolescent heavy drinking on adult brain structure and function, particularly in the frontal and parietal lobes.
A new study of more than 28,000 people suggests that daily cigarette smoking reduces the size of the brain's gray and white matter. The research provides strong evidence that smoking causally shrinks the brain. The scientists analyzed brain imaging data from the U.K. Biobank and found that participants who smoked on a daily basis at some point prior to having their brains imaged had brain volumes that were 0.4 cubic inches smaller, on average. Brain shrinkage has been associated with neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, establishing a causal link between smoking and brain volume decline furthers our understanding of whether smoking directly drives these diseases through this mechanism.
A recent study has found that gray matter volume in various cortical areas decreases by an average of 5.25% per decade, with the rostral anterior cingulate cortex experiencing the most significant reduction. Men generally experience a higher rate of gray matter volume decrease than women, particularly in the cingulate lobe. The study's findings provide a normative reference for clinical conditions that involve abnormal brain atrophy, emphasizing the need for personalized and targeted strategies to manage age-related brain volume loss.