Scientists analyzed more than 12,500 MRI scans from 4,726 people without cognitive impairments and found that men lose gray matter volume in more areas of the brain.
In particular, the postcentral cortex, the area responsible for touch, pain, and body position, decreased by 2% per year in men versus 1.2% in women.
"These results indicate that men age faster, and this partly explains their shorter life expectancy," says neuropsychologist Fiona Kumfor from the University of Sydney.
However, despite the slower aging of the brain, women are more likely to experience Alzheimer's disease. Researcher Anne Ravndahl from the University of Oslo emphasizes: "If structural changes in the brain were a key factor, we would see a greater loss of volume in the hippocampus or other memory-related areas in women."
Scientists suggest that other factors - in particular, life expectancy, hormonal changes or different sensitivity to the disease - may better explain this difference.
Despite the scale of the work, the researchers are calling for further studies with broader samples, as participants had a higher level of education, which in itself reduces the risk of developing dementia. korrespondent.net.
