Hidden brain wiring may help keep the mind sharp as gray matter shrinks

Scientists have discovered that the brain’s short-range wiring may help protect cognition even as gray matter shrinks with age. Healthier connections just beneath the brain’s surface were linked to better language skills and appeared to weaken the impact of gray matter loss. Hidden brain wiring may help keep the mind sharp as gray matter shrinks.

Com Scientists at the Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have uncovered evidence that two neighboring types of brain tissue may work together to support thinking abilities later in life. Their findings suggest that the condition of the brain’s local communication pathways could influence how strongly gray matter loss affects cognition. The study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, included brain imaging and cognitive testing from 459 adults aged 60 and older living in communities across India.

The research is among the first to investigate superficial white matter in a community-based population from a low- and middle-income country. The Brain’s Local Communication Network Superficial white matter forms a thin layer of nerve fibers directly beneath the gray matter covering the outside of the brain. These short, curved fibers connect nearby regions of the cerebral cortex, allowing them to exchange information.