Researchers from University of Edinburgh used brain imaging techniques to measure the amount of water in brain tissue.

[The study results] "suggest a clear target for seeking treatment for mental difficulties, be they pathological or age-related. That the brain's nerve connections tend to stay the same throughout the brain means we can now look at factors that affect the overall condition of the brain, like its bloody supply," Penke said.

"This research is very exciting as it could have a real impact on tackling mental decline in later life, including dementia. With new understanding on how the brain functions we can work out why mental faculties decline with age in some people and not others and look at what can be done to improve our minds' chances of ageing better," said Professor James Goodwin, Head of Research at Age UK.

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