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Articles related to focusing on healthy aging, prevention, mobility, cognition, nutrition, independence, and caregiving support.

5 min

The Peripheral Slowing Hypothesis: What theory suggests that overall processing speed declines in the peripheral nervous system with increasing age?

According to a study published in 2023, electrodiagnostic tests confirm that aging is associated with decreased nerve conduction amplitudes, increased latency, and a slowing of conduction velocity in the peripheral nervous system. This supports the peripheral slowing hypothesis, a theory that suggests overall processing speed declines in the peripheral nervous system with increasing age.

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4 min

Does myelination occur throughout life? Answering the question of lifelong brain health

Research has shown that myelination, the process of forming a protective sheath around nerve fibers, continues well beyond adolescence, even into a person's 30s and beyond. This continued activity supports neural circuit plasticity throughout the lifespan, meaning the answer to the question, "Does myelination occur throughout life?" is yes, to a significant extent.

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5 min

Which structural change to the central nervous system would be associated with aging?

Brain atrophy, the gradual loss of brain cells and neural connections, is a common structural change associated with normal aging, starting around age 35. This process involves a decrease in overall brain volume, particularly in regions like the frontal and temporal lobes, and is a key structural change to the central nervous system that impacts cognitive function over time.

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5 min

Does Myelin Increase or Decrease with Age? An In-depth Look

While the brain continues to produce new myelin throughout life, the overall amount of **myelin decreases with age** due to progressive degeneration and less efficient repair mechanisms. Myelination is a lifelong process that peaks in mid-life before entering a phase of gradual decline. This demyelination is a key factor in age-related cognitive and motor function decline.

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4 min

Do we lose myelin as we age? The Facts on Age-Related Myelin Decline

According to imaging studies, the human brain’s white matter volume typically peaks around age 30 and begins to decline after 50. A key factor in this process is the degeneration of myelin, the fatty protective sheath around nerve fibers. But the full picture of why we lose myelin as we age and how it affects us is more complex than simple deterioration.

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