The aging brainWhy does the human brain age? Brain aging is a part of human life and occupies an important place in society, as awareness of brain aging increases. Over time, memory tends to become less effective as we age and the neurons in the brain diminish (Bendheim, PE (2009). By 2050 in the United States, 20 percent of the population will be 65 years or older and as the elderly population increases, so will the incidence of age-related neurological disorders (Perlmutter, David. (2004). It is therefore important to understand brain aging and way to maintain brain function as we age As age increases, we can expect some loss of heart, lung, joint, and sexual function. Mental efficiency is a normal part of healthy aging (Bendheim, PE (2009). Our human brain is made up of living cells, which are constantly learning, as we refer to. A small child's brain is like a sponge, because he constantly thinks and stores memories. As that child grows older, the brain also ages, and it will be strong but its response will slow (Perlmutter, David. (2004). Alzheimer's disease seems to always be in the news, but it is not the only disease linked to brain aging. A healthy brain can experience normal aging. Normal cognitive aging results in predictable changes in thinking and memory that are associated with aging (Memory Impairment. (2010). Normal “healthy” brain aging. is defined as disease-free aging. Many older people do not show symptoms of disease and live normally, but nevertheless they may demonstrate some forgetfulness (Perlmutter, David. (2004). Normal brain aging differs. of pathological aging caused by diseases that damage the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease or cerebrovascular diseases (Me.... ... middle of paper ...... the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain die. Symptoms depend on which part of the brain is affected, but the most common signs include extreme changes in behavior and personality. dementia, 30 to 40 percent have a family history of dementia, suggesting that the disease has a genetic component (memory impairment. (2010). Works Cited Bendheim, PE,. (2009). The training revolution Cerebral. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks. Hess, TM (2005). Psychological Bulletin, 131(3), 383-406. normal aging or brain disease? (2010). Improving memory (2010), 15-19. Ober, BA (2010). ), 174-182. Perlmutter, David (2004)..