New research shows that subtle changes in the shape of deep-brain structures—not just their overall shrinkage—are linked to how our thinking skills change as we enter our 70s. A study of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, a long-running project tracking people from Scotland, found that different parts of the brain age in distinct ways, and those patterns relate to cognitive performance.
The Research
Scientists led by Maria del C. Valdes-Hernandez and colleagues from the University of Edinburgh and other institutions analyzed brain scans and cognitive tests from 731 participants in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, all born in 1936 and now in their 8th decade of life. They used a special technique to measure the shape of subcortical structures—brain regions like the hippocampus, thalamus, and basal ganglia—over several years.
The study, published on arXiv (q-bio.NC) in May 2026, found that different subcortical structures showed varied patterns of shape change. The hippocampus and ventral diencephalon (a region involved in hormone regulation) changed asymmetrically between the left and right sides of the brain. In contrast, the thalamus and globus pallidus shrank more uniformly. When the researchers linked these shape changes to cognitive scores, they found that changes in general cognition—a composite measure of memory, processing speed, and reasoning—were most strongly associated with inward or outward movements of specific surface points (vertices) on these structures.
Why It Matters
This suggests that monitoring brain shape may reveal early signs of cognitive aging that volume measurements alone miss. For anyone curious about their own brain health, it underscores that aging is not uniform—even within the same person, different brain regions age at different rates and in different ways. The study was done in healthy, community-dwelling adults, so these are typical aging patterns, not disease-related changes.
What You Can Do
While you can't change your brain's shape directly, keeping your brain active and healthy may support its structure. Activities like learning new skills, staying socially engaged, and managing cardiovascular health (exercise, diet, blood pressure) are linked to slower cognitive decline. Consider taking a free adaptive IQ test at iqgenio.com to track your cognitive strengths and areas to work on.
Source: arXiv q-bio.NC
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