衰老过程中男性大脑萎缩速度快于女性

Core Insights - A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that during aging, men's brains exhibit more significant volume reduction and a faster atrophy rate compared to women [1] Group 1: Research Findings - The research team from the University of Oslo analyzed MRI brain scans from 4,726 healthy participants, totaling 12,500 scans, with each participant undergoing more than two scans over intervals of three years [1] - Men showed a notable volume decrease in various brain regions, such as the postcentral cortex, which is responsible for processing touch, pain, temperature, and body posture, with an annual atrophy rate of approximately 2.0% for men compared to 1.2% for women [1] - The findings suggest that men age faster and have a shorter average life expectancy [1] Group 2: Implications for Neurodegenerative Diseases - Understanding the natural aging process of a healthy brain can enhance the comprehension of the development mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases [1] - If Alzheimer's disease is related to these changes, faster atrophy should be observable in critical areas of the female brain, such as the hippocampus and precuneus, but the study did not find such phenomena [1] - The complexity of Alzheimer's disease etiology indicates that age-related brain atrophy alone is insufficient to reveal its mechanisms [1] Group 3: Gender Differences in Alzheimer's Disease - The results imply that the higher incidence of Alzheimer's disease in women may be linked to differences in lifespan or disease susceptibility rather than brain volume changes [1] - After adjusting for education levels, the atrophy rate in certain male brain regions was no longer significantly faster than in females [1] - When comparing men and women with the same life expectancy (rather than age), the rate of brain decline was found to be similar between the two groups [1]