Mar 19 2024Cell Press The team reviewed evidence from human and animal studies suggesting that middle age-;commonly considered as the period between 40 and 60 or 65 years of age-;marks a shift in brain aging. They argue that more research should be dedicated to middle age, a period of life that is historically understudied.
During middle age, the brain undergoes significant molecular, cellular, and structural changes, and many of these changes have been linked to cognitive decline, which has also been shown to accelerate during middle age. "The fourth and fifth decades of life may be a turning point in the organization of brain networks, characterized by optimal efficiency, system segregation, and modularity, followed by accelerated decay of these properties," the authors write.
There is some evidence that exercise might aid healthy cognitive aging, but more research is needed. "Studying the intersection of aging- and exercise-related molecular processes could unveil new therapeutic targets," the authors write.