Brain Shape Changes Reveal Cognitive Decline in 8th Decade, Lothian Study Shows
Hippocampus deforms asymmetrically while thalami shrink uniformly—linked to cognition.
A new study from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 tracked subcortical brain shape variations in 800+ community-dwelling individuals across their 70s. Using longitudinal neuroimaging and cognitive assessments, researchers found that subcortical structures do not age uniformly. The hippocampus and ventral diencephalon showed asymmetric deformations (left vs. right hemispheres) over time, while the thalami and globus pallidi experienced symmetrical, uniform volume contraction—suggesting different aging mechanisms for different brain regions.
Crucially, changes in general cognition were tied to specific vertex displacements (inward or outward) between time points, with effects varying by structure. This work, published on arXiv (2026), suggests that shape-based analysis can capture functionally relevant brain aging beyond standard volumetry, potentially enabling earlier detection of cognitive decline. The findings open avenues for more precise biomarkers in aging populations.
- Hippocampus and ventral diencephalon showed asymmetric deformations between hemispheres, while thalami and globus pallidi had symmetrical contraction.
- General cognitive changes were linked to inward/outward vertex displacements, with different patterns across subcortical structures.
- Longitudinal data from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (community-dwelling, 8th decade) revealed heterogeneous atrophy not captured by gross volumetry.
Why It Matters
Shape-based brain aging markers could outperform volume measures for early cognitive decline detection in aging populations.