Scientists have mapped the evolution of the human brain throughout our lives

Based on more than a hundred thousand MRI scans, an international team of scientists has been able to precisely follow the evolution of brain structure and volume throughout our lives.

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Detailed in the review Naturethis work involved the analysis of 123,984 scans ofMagnetic resonance imaging over 101,457 humans (from a 16.5 week fetus to 100 year olds), from over 100 studies. According to their authors, this is the first research to establish patterns of brain development from the earliest to the later stages of life.

The human brain has been found to grow from 10 to 80 percent of its maximum volume between the ages of 4 months and around three years, reaching a peak of 1,066 cubic centimeters around the age of 11 before declining gradually. The team also found that the maximum thickness of the cortex (outer region of the brain) was on average affected around the age of 1.7 years.

As the thinning of the cortex has been associated with neurological diseases such asAlzheimer’sthis finding suggests that early brain development may influence the risk of developing this condition later in life.

” If this feature has effects later in life and cortical thickness peaks very early, this raises the interesting question of whether we should explore factors that may promote these diseases at an early age. “, highlighted Jakob Seidlitzco-author of the study.

Towards a better diagnosis of neurological disorders and diseases

This type of mapping could one day serve as a benchmark for standard brain growth, like pediatric growth charts, and help clinicians and researchers better track the onset of neurological disorders.

” This is a colossal first step towards creating maps of brain development that will enable more accurate and earlier diagnosis of atypical developmental patterns and neurodegenerative diseases. », concludes Vaidehi Natuof the University Stanford.