Thinning of brain region may signal dementia risk 5-10 years before symptoms.

A recent study conducted by researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, in collaboration with colleagues from The University of California, Davis, and Boston University, has found that a thinning of a brain region called cortical gray matter may be an accurate biomarker for dementia. The study analyzed MRI brain imaging data from 1,000 participants in the Framingham Heart Study and 500 individuals from a California cohort, including a diverse representation of Black and Hispanic participants. The results showed that thinner ribbons of cortical gray matter were associated with a higher risk of dementia. The researchers believe that this biomarker could be used to identify individuals at high risk of dementia and allow for early interventions and lifestyle modifications. Further research is needed to explore the risk factors related to this thinning and its potential applications in clinical trials and therapeutics. [Extracted from the article]