Our brains lose their youthful firmness and become 'slacker' as we get older

The numerous folds which cover our brains change over time, becoming slacker as we age, according to a study. What's more, this slacking was seen to be more pronounced in those with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers believe that learning more about how the mechanisms which control how folding changes with age could potentially be used to help diagnose brain diseases and spot dementia. The outer surface of the brain is covered in a number of folds called sulci, which increase the surface area of cortex which can be packed into the skull. To find the link between these wrinkles and the tension of the cerebral cortex, the team, led by researchers from Newcastle University, peered inside the skulls of more than 1,000 people to map their brains.