International Journal of Current Medical And Applied Sciences, 2016, April, 10(2),62-64.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Average Weight 0f Brain in Different Age Groups.
Prasanna M.B1. Cessy Job1 & Nandagopalan P.A2.
1Additional
Professor, Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
2Professor, Department of Anatomy, P.K. Das Institute of Medical Sciences, Ottapalam, Palakkad, Kerala, India
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Abstract:
It is assumed that larger the size of brain relative to the body, more brain weight might be available for more
complex, cognitive tasks. Compared to other animals the human brain is larger and heavier and the
Encephalization quotient EQ is highest in human. EQ is a rough estimate of intelligence.
Based on the study of 104 male, female and fetal brains, the normal brain weight was tabulated. The average weight
of brain in an adult male was 1268 gms and in a female was 1208 gms. It was found that with increasing age, the
brain weight gradually increased in the first three decades and then decreased till the seventh decade.
Key Words: Human brain, Decades, Intelligence, Encephalization.
Introduction:
Larger the size of brain relative to the body, more brain
weight might be available for more complex cognitive
tasks [5,6]. Based on the study of 104 male, female and
fetal brains, the normal brain weight was tabulated.
The average weight of brain in males was 1268 gms
and in females 1208 gms. There is a difference of 60
gms in the average weight of brain in males and
females.
In the males, the brain weight was found to increase
gradually in the first three decades to 1460gms and
then gradually decrease to 1030gms in the seventh
decade. In the females the brain weight was found to
gradually increase in the first three decades to 1320
gms and then decrease to 1100 gms in the seventh
decade.
Materials & Methods:
A total of 104 brain specimens obtained from cadavers,
& full term fetuses from medical colleges were taken,
their external appearance was noted. They were
weighed using an electronic balance. The average brain
weight in different age groups and sex was tabulated.
Figure 1: Normal Human Brain in An Adult Male Cadaver:
Observations and Results:
104 brain specimens were studied belonging to
different age group from fetus to 65 years. Out of 104
brain Specimen 59 (56.7%) were male brain Specimens
and 45(43.3%) of Female brain Specimens.
Out of 104 Brain Specimen, maximum were from agegroup 30-40 years i.e. 11(10.6) where as minimum in
age-Group 0-5 years i.e 3(2.9%).
In 59 Male brain specimens, maximum from age-groups
30-40 years & 50-56 years i.e. 6(10.2%).where as in 45
Female Brain Specimen maximum brain Specimens
from age-group 31-35 years & 36-40 years i.e.
5(11.1%).
Address for Correspondence:
Dr. Cessy Job,
Additional Professor ,
Department of Anatomy,
Government Medical College,
Kottayam [Kerala], India.
Email: [email protected]
How to cite this article:
Prasanna M. B., Cessy Job, Nandagopalan P.A. : Average Weight Of
Brain In Different Age Groups: International Journal of current
Medical and Applied sciences; 2016, 10(2), 62-64.
IJCMAAS,E-ISSN:2321-9335,P-ISSN:2321-9327.
Access this Article Online
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Prasanna M.B., Cessy Job & Nandagopalan P.A.
Table 1: Age & Gender wise brain Speciman
Age groups Males
In years
No %
Fetus
0-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
41-45
46-50
51-55
56-60
61-65
Total
5
1
3
2
4
5
5
4
6
4
5
4
6
5
59
8.5
1.7
5.1
3.4
6.8
8.5
8.5
6.8
10.2
6.7
8.5
6.8
10.2
8.5
100
Females
No
%
Total
No
%
3
2
2
4
4
4
4
5
5
3
2
3
2
2
45
8
3
5
6
8
9
9
9
11
7
7
7
8
7
104
7.8
2.9
4.8
5.8
7.8
8.6
8.6
8.6
10.6
6.7
6.7
6.7
7.8
6.7
100
6.7
4.4
4.4
8.8
8.8
8.8
8.8
11.1
11.1
6.7
4.4
6.7
4.4
4.4
100
Table 2: Average weight of Brain in different age groups
Age groups
Fetus
0-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
41-45
46-50
51-55
56-60
61-65
Males (gms)
450
1100
1283
1350
1440
1460
1402
1345
1250
1230
1230
1200
1150
1030
Females (gms)
396
1000
1125
1200
1200
1320
1320
1260
1250
1250
1250
1270
1175
1100
The Brain Weight in Fetus:
The average weight of brain in male and female fetuses was observed to be 450 gms and 396 gms respectively.
There is a difference of 54 gms in the average weight of brain in male and female full term fetuses.
The Weight Of Brain in Adults:
It was observed that the average weight of brain in males was 1268gms & in females was 1208 gms. There was a
difference of 60 gms, in the average weight.
In males the brain weight was found to increase gradually in the first three decades to 1460 gms and then
gradually decrease to 1030 gms in the seventh decade. In the females the brain weight was found to gradually
increase in the first three decades to 1320 gms and then decrease to 1100 gms in the seventh decade.
Discussion:
It was observed by Takahashi & Suzuki (1967) [1]
after a study on the weight of 470 brains in Japanese,
that the average brain weight in males was 1397gms
and in females was 1229gms during the sixth decade.
They concluded that the average brain weight in
males increased during the third, fourth and fifth
decade and then gradually decreased. In the females it
reached the maximum in the third and remained so in
the fourth and fifth decade. These findings differ from
the findings in the present study, were the average
brain weight in males was 1268gms and in females
was 1208gms. The average brain weight was found to
gradually increase in the first three decades in males
up to 1460gms and then gradually fall to 1030gms. In
the females it increased gradually in the first three
decades to 1320gms and then gradually decreased to
1100gms in the seventh decade. According to
Chrazenowsha et al (1973) [2] the average difference
between the weight of human brain in both sexes is
130-150gms, while in the present study it was 1080gms. They also recorded a de crease in brain weight
from 30-40 years [3,4], which coincided with the
findings in the present study. They reported a loss of
Logic Publications @ 2016, IJCMAAS, E-ISSN: 2321-9335,P-ISSN:2321-9327.
Logic Publications @ 2016, IJCMAAS, E-ISSN: 2321-9335,P-ISSN:2321-9327.
one ninth of brain weight in both sexes by 90th year
which in the present study was 18% in males and 8%
in the females by 70th year. Here it was observed that
the average brain weight was more in the males than
in the females, from fetus to 35 years and almost
equal in both sexes from 36-40 years. After forty
years it was more in the females than in the males, by
10 gms, reaching a maximum of 140 gms by 65 years.
Conclusion:
The external appearance and weight of brain was
studied in different age groups in both sexes using
cadaveric specimens and full term still born fetuses.
There was a difference of 60gms in the average
weight of brain in males and females. The average
brain weight was found to increase gradually in the
first three decades and then decrease till the seventh
decade.
Acknowledgement:
Authors sincerely thank Dr. Raju Jacob, Professor and
Head, Dept of Anatomy, Govt. Medical College,
Kottayam, for his constant support. Authors also
acknowledge the immense help received from the
scholars, whose articles are cited and included in
references of this manuscript.
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morphol,., Warsc, 1973 , 32, 391-406.
Chrazenowsha G, Krechowaecki A, Does the weight
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-----------------------------------------------------Conflict of interest: None declared
No source of funding.
International Journal of Current Medical And Applied Sciences [IJCMAAS], Volume : 10, Issue: 2.
Page | 64