Are women protected brains better before a cognitive decline?

Doctors found out now, in a study of the age of brains on the basis of the metabolism that the brains of women are almost four years younger, compared with the brains of men of the same age. But what causes the brains of women stay in an advanced age, younger, and better yet, function as the brain of the same old men?

The scientists from the Washington University in St. Louis found that the brains of women are metabolically younger than it is old men. The experts published the results of their study in the English journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” (PNAS).

Women are in high age are often mentally healthier

If women are metabolically years younger, compared with men, this could help to explain why women in later life are often mentally fitter, as the experts. The investigation identified a difference of 3.8 years show already in early adulthood and continue into old age. It was already known that all brains with age are smaller and the brains of men tend to shrink faster. The study suggests that changes in the use of energy by the brain in the course of life progression in women was slower than in men.

Brain scans of 200 subjects were evaluated

The research team from the USA investigated for the study, so-called PET brain scan images of 205 men and women in age from 20 to 82 years. In the case of the Scans, the flow of oxygen and glucose sugar was measured, the brain consumes large quantities of energy. This use pattern, however, changes with age, explain the doctors. It is not so, that men’s brains age faster. In men, the brain at the entry into adulthood just three years older, compared with the same old women. This difference in age of the brain remain then the entire further life, adds study author Dr. Manu Goyal of the School of Medicine of Washington University in St. Louis.

A younger brain leads to less cognitive problems?

The importance of this age difference is learning the science is still unknown. Women could not break down in later life as strong cognitively, because your brain is simply younger, compared with the same old men, adds Dr. Goyal. It is currently, carried out a study which aims to confirm the assumption. A group of adults is already under medical Supervision and so should be used to determine whether people with a younger brain will develop in the course of life are less likely to cognitive problems. (as)