Recent research from UMC Utrecht and the Mayo Clinic has revealed that brain decline starts later than previously believed, occurring between ages 30 and 40 rather than after 25. This study, published in Nature Neuroscience, involved analyzing electrode grids implanted in epilepsy patients’ brains. It found that brain connectivity speeds double from 2 meters per second in four-year-olds to 4 meters in those aged 30 to 40, with a subsequent decline only after this age. The frontal lobe, responsible for complex thinking, develops more slowly than areas related to movement, highlighting a nuanced growth pattern.
Data was gathered by stimulating electrodes to map brain activity, which now provides valuable insights into how the brain functions. This research enables the creation of more accurate computer models of brain connectivity, enhancing understanding of the central nervous system and potentially benefiting epilepsy and other brain disorder research. The findings and data will be publicly accessible under Open Science, allowing researchers globally to utilize this information for future studies. Ph.D. student Dorien van Blooijs expressed curiosity regarding the innovative research that may stem from this new knowledge.
