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Why you should slow down your brain’s ageing – and how to do it

Many of us have a brain that is older than our years. But there are plenty of things you can do to counteract this, says neuroscience columnist Helen Thomson

By Helen Thomson

21 March 2025

MRI brain scans — MRI scans can reveal how a brain is ageing
Dennis Hallinan / Alamy Stock Photo

Lately, my brain has felt decidedly ancient. I’m only in my 40s, but last week I completely blanked on the date of my wedding anniversary, forgot the name of a friend’s son and couldn’t seem to concentrate on any work.

So when I was asked to write a column for New Scientist all about the brain, one question immediately came to mind: how old is mine? Years of research show that organs such as our heart, kidneys and ovaries don’t all age…

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