Neuroimaging study reveals those with anorexia have noticeable reductions in cortical thickness, subcortical volume, and cortical surface area. The reductions are between 2 to 4 times larger than abnormalities in brain size and shape in those with other mental illnesses.
Even mild COVID-19 infection can lead to cognitive alterations and brain shrinkage, researchers report. The findings could help explain the brain changes that contribute to long-COVID.
New studies have identified an association between daily high coffee consumption, brain shrinkage and an increased risk of dementia. However, researchers were unable to identify a causal relationship between caffeine consumption and dementia. The study also found moderate coffee consumption was associated with lower dementia risk than high consumption, or abstaining from caffeinated drinks.
Frequent exercise, such as walking, swimming, and dancing, was associated with less brain shrinkage in older adults. The effect of exercise in older people was equal to four fewer years of brain aging.