Uneven cerebellum aging may partly explain why some older adults stay mentally sharp

by Paul Arnold, Medical Xpress

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Scientists may have discovered a new role for the cerebellum, the part of the brain that sits at the base of the skull. A new paper published in the journal Nature Neuroscience reports that different parts of the cerebellum change at different rates with age, which may be linked to differences in cognitive abilities and memory in later life. This may help explain why some people stay sharper as they get older.

The name "cerebellum" comes from Latin and means "little brain." While it is smaller than the rest of the brain, it contains most of the brain's neurons and coordinates a variety of functions and processes in the brain and body. These include balance, posture and fine motor skills like typing or writing.

When it comes to aging and decline, there is a major gap in scientists' knowledge: They still don't have a clear understanding of why some people stay mentally sharp much longer than others.

Mapping the uneven decline

Most research of this nature focuses on the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, but in this study, Princeton University neuroscientist Federico d'Oleire Uquillas and colleagues turned their attention to the cerebellum. They chose it because they thought this neuron-dense area might help preserve thinking and memory as people age.

The team analyzed brain scans and cognitive test scores from more than 700 healthy U.S. individuals whose data had been collected as part of the Human Connectome Project. Then they mapped out 11 separate sections on the digital scans and calculated how the volume of each region changed with age.

The scientists discovered that the cerebellum does not age evenly. Regions at the back, which are more connected to higher-order thinking networks, show faster shrinking than front regions involved in basic movement. "We show a spatially heterogeneous pattern of aging in which specific association and motor-related regions show steeper relationships with age than other lobules," the authors wrote in their paper.

The data also revealed that people with a larger cerebellum scored higher on memory and thinking tests as they aged than people with a smaller cerebellum.

The research team saw a similar trend in a pool of about 47,000 adults in the UK Biobank and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. However, in people with Alzheimer's, it appears that support from the cerebellum has its limits as the disease progresses. "This supports a threshold-reserve model, in which the cerebellum helps sustain cognition until pathology becomes widespread."

Remaining questions

The researchers cannot say for certain whether a larger cerebellum directly causes better cognition in old age. They have shown a link or association, not a true cause-and-effect relationship. Also, their findings might not apply to everyone globally because most of the study data came from white individuals with high levels of education.

Written for you by our author Paul Arnold, edited by Lisa Lock, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Egan—this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

Publication details

Federico d'Oleire Uquillas et al, Cerebellar aging is spatially heterogeneous and supports cognitive resilience in later life, Nature Neuroscience (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-026-02289-x

Journal information: Nature Neuroscience

Key medical concepts

CerebellumAlzheimer's DiseaseCerebral CortexHippocampusConnectome Project, Human

Clinical categories

NeurologyHealthy aging Who's behind this story?

Paul Arnold

BSc Biology from University of London. BBC documentary producer with world travel experience. Freelances from southern Spain. Full profile →

Lisa Lock

BA art history, MA material culture. Former museum editor, paramedic, and transplant coordinator. Editing for Science X since 2021. Full profile →

Robert Egan

Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing. Well-traveled with unique perspectives on science and language. Full profile →

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