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Brain white matter volume can decrease by nearly 30% between ages 20 and 80, a phenomenon linked to significant alterations in the protective myelin sheath. This process involves a complex interplay of degradation and compromised repair, fundamentally changing how myelination changes with age and impacting brain function.
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.
Research has shown that white matter volume in the brain, where myelin is concentrated, can decrease by as much as 28% in older adults. The question, 'do you lose myelin as you age?' delves into this complex process, revealing a truth more nuanced than simple, irreversible loss.
