Senior moments, those pesky instances of not so total recall–forgetting where we left our keys or what we did last weekend–are a subtle but significant part of the aging process. Another effect of growing old: rising blood sugar levels, which typically take off in our late 30s or early 40s as our bodies become less adept at metabolizing glucose in the bloodstream. Now a study has linked these rising levels with momentary forgetfulness, pinpointing exactly where in the brain the aging process acts–a finding that could help the elderly ward off memory lapses.
The nature of senior moments led scientists to believe they stem from disruptions in the hippocampus–an area that, among other roles, acts as the brain’s “save” button, allowing us to retain new information. Using functional MRI, researchers looked at the effects of increased blood glucose in the hippocampus of 181 subjects aged 65 or older with no history [...]

Original post by Scientific American Topic - Exercise and Fitness