From: Rafal Smigrodzki (rms2g@virginia.edu)
Date: Tue Sep 24 2002 - 15:09:34 MDT
Emlyn wrote:
>
> (On a more personal note: I have a big head... it runs in my family.
> Somehow, we don't get auto entry into the Beautiful People club based
> on that characteristic, which is a pity).
>
### Congratulations! Your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease are
lower than in the Beautiful People. According to a number of reports, e.g.
Tisserand DJ. Bosma H. Van Boxtel MP. Jolles J. "Head size and cognitive
ability in nondemented older adults are related.", Neurology. 56(7):969-71,
2001 Apr 10., large-normal head size is negatively correlated with the risk
for cognitive decline. Probably the best head circumference to have is about
62 cm (in the adult).
Abstract
In a cross-sectional analysis of 818 healthy older individuals (aged 50 to
81 years), head size was found to be related to performance on tests
measuring intelligence, global cognitive functioning, and speed of
information processing, but not memory. These relations were not confounded
by educational level, socioeconomic background, or height. Large head/brain
size may protect elderly people against cognitive deterioration, supporting
a reserve hypothesis of brain aging.
Rafal
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