ENIGMA and the Aging Brain

No surprise in this 21^st Century—the age of the brain—scientists and researchers are very interested in figuring out more about DNA mutations and about the genes that may contribute to mental decline and other brain-related symptoms sometimes seen in the aging brain. Enter ENIGMA, an acronym for Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta Analysis. ENIGMA researchers have pooled over 30,000 brain scans and genetic data from individuals in 33 countries, attempting to pinpoint genes that enhance or break down key brain regions in the human brain. Initial results were released in the peer-reviewed journal Nature. This largest collaborative study of the brain to date was led by researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC).