Aging changes in the nervous system The brain and nervous system
are your body’s control center. They control your body’s
movements, your senses, your thoughts and memories. They also
control the organs such as your heart and bowels. Nerves are the
pathways that carry signals to and from your brain and the rest
of your body. The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that runs
from your brain down the center of your back. Nerves extend out
from the spinal cord to every part of your body. Aging Changes
and Their Effects on the Nervous System As you age, your brain
and nervous system go through natural changes. Your brain and
spinal cord lose nerve cells and weight (atrophy). Nerve cells
may begin to pass messages more slowly than in the past. Waste
products can collect in the brain tissue as nerve cells break
down. This can cause abnormal changes in the brain called
plaques and tangles to form. A fatty brown pigment (lipofuscin)
can also build up in nerve tissue. Breakdown of nerves can
affect your senses. You mi