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Ageing and the brain
Peters R.. Postgraduate medical journal, 2006-02-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Ageing causes changes to the brain size, vasculature, and cognition. The brain shrinks with increasing age and there are changes at all levels from molecules to morphology. Incidence of stroke, white matter lesions, and dementia also rise with age, as does level of memory impairment and there are changes in levels of neurotransmitters and hormones. Protective factors that reduce cardiovascular risk, namely regular exercise, a healthy diet, and low to moderate alcohol intake, seem to aid the ageing brain as does increased cognitive effort in the form of education or occupational attainment. A healthy life both physically and mentally may be the best defence against the changes of an ageing brain. Additional measures to prevent cardiovascular disease may also be important.
Key findings
- The brain shrinks with increasing age and there are changes at all levels from molecules to morphology.
- Incidence of stroke, white matter lesions, and dementia also rise with age, as does level of memory impairment and there are changes in levels of neurotransmitters and hormones.
- Protective factors that reduce cardiovascular risk, namely regular exercise, a healthy diet, and low to moderate alcohol intake, seem to aid the ageing brain as does increased cognitive effort in the form of education or occupational attainment.
- A healthy life both physically and mentally may be the best defence against the changes of an ageing brain.
- Additional measures to prevent cardiovascular disease may also be important.
Why it matters
This review reports that brain shrinkage, memory impairment and dementia all rise with age, and that protective factors reducing cardiovascular risk such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and low to moderate alcohol intake seem to aid the ageing brain. It suggests that a healthy life both physically and mentally may be the best defence against the changes of an ageing brain, with additional measures to prevent cardiovascular disease possibly also important.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Postgraduate medical journal) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Postgraduate Medical Journal: journal h-index 204 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2006 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 878 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 39.9 citations a year over 22 year(s) since 2006 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 224 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Ruth K Peters: h-index 72 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Imperial College London: institution h-index 1,744 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16461469) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Peters, R. (2006). Ageing and the brain. Postgraduate medical journal. https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.2005.036665
Vancouver
Peters R. Ageing and the brain. Postgraduate medical journal. 2006. doi:10.1136/pgmj.2005.036665. PMID: 16461469.
BibTeX
@article{peters2006-16461469,
author = {Peters, R.},
title = {{Ageing and the brain}},
journal = {Postgraduate medical journal},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.1136/pgmj.2005.036665},
pmid = {16461469},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.2005.036665}
}
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