A condition believed to be a normal part of the ageing process has been found to have a negative effect on the brain function of older adults.

Leukoaraiosis, also known as small vessel ischemia, is a condition in which diseased blood vessels lead to small areas of damage in the white matter of the brain. The lesions are common in the brains of people over the age of 60, although the amount of disease varies among individuals.

"We know that aging is a risk factor for leukoaraiosis, and we suspect that high blood pressure may also play a role, … Different systems of the brain respond differently to disease, … White matter damage affects connections within the brain’s language network, which leads to an overall reduction in network activity." -Kirk M. Welker, M.D., assistant professor of radiology in the College of Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

(Source: medicalxpress.com)