DrWinner.org - Step 5, Exercise the Brain

The brain needs to be continually stimulated to remain at its peak performance. Continued mental challenges in multiple domains is needed to maintain a healthy brain. These mental challenges can consist of crossword puzzles, word jumbles, math games, Sudoku, board games, games of strategy that are available in multiple platforms. These are all good tools to maintain a healthy brain. Another option could be taking up a new foreign language, enrolling in a course on a subject matter you've always wanted to study. Starting a new hobby is also an interesting option. The key is to continually exercise the brain. Use it or you'll lose it. Things to avoid are excessive time watching television and non interactive situations. Just as a background thought it's a good idea each decade to try something new like a new language or study some new course of subject matter. It is important that as we age to actually increase our mental processing in an effort to retard the natural aging process that takes place as it relates to the nervous system.

Regarding the natural aging of a brain it is noted that the most detailed information as it relates to the affects of aging on the nervous system comes from measuring the cognitive function of our brain. Present data has noted the decline of cognitive function begins as early as 30 years of age and progresses with time. Not a comforting thought if you're over the age of 30. The structural and functional decline that accompanies aging from age 30 to beyond 80 includes the present decline of brain weight and volume of anywhere from 10 to 20% as well as a decline in the number of nerve fibers that can be as great as 35 %.

As we age the ability to remember, memorize, acquire new knowledge, and recall names diminishes. This decline can vary significantly from individual to individual and we must do everything in our power to retard this decline.

We know that aging begins when free radical damage occurs at the cellular level, thus the use of antioxidants can help to prevent this destruction. There are organic foods and healthy brain supplements that can help to improve mental acuity and maintain good brain function. Please refer to the sections of this website regarding healthy brain nutrition and healthy brain supplements.

Memory loss, forgetfulness often presents in varying degrees as we age. When memory loss begins to impair function and is associated with personality change we are often seeing the early expression of Alzheimer's dementia. It is imperative to have a complete medical evaluation by your physician or allied healthcare professional at the first signs of memory loss and to continue to have frequent follow-ups with your healthcare professional. It is known that depression, metabolic disorders and sometimes adverse effects from medications can be misdiagnosed or often look like early Alzheimer's. It is imperative that if you know someone or you're experiencing symptoms of this nature that you get a proper medical evaluation and an accurate diagnosis of the condition.

The changing brain from the age of 30 on, we note there is a decline in the weight of the brain. This decline is gradual at first but accelerates during the 60s and beyond. This loss of brain weight is due to the loss of nerve cells.

The cell loss in the limbic system (memory area) is of special interest. The loss of neurons ranges from 25 to 35 % depending on the area of the brain being evaluated, with regard to the concerns of nerve cell loss. Unfortunately this also occurs in the spinal cord as well.

Careful study has shown us that surviving neurons can respond to cell loss and develop new synaptic connections in an affect to preserve function. Thus it is important to exercise the brain by intellectually challenging as well as using physical activity coupled with appropriate nutrition. The important building blocks of good organic foods and appropriate supplements combined with proper sleep and stress management are vital to maintaining a healthy brain. In the aging brain we see the development of senile plaques first occurring in the limbic system (hippocampus and the parahippocampus memory regions) then later throughout the brain. The brain of mentally intact older individuals contains few plaques. Very few tangles are also found in individuals who have proper brain function even into the later years. Neurofibillary tangles and amyloid containing plaques are more abundant and diffusely distributed in individuals with Alzheimer's disease, thus we see significant differences in the pathology of the brain of someone with normal aging as compared to the brain with the disease of dementia.

There is a decline in the concentration of neurotransmitters as we age. These neurotransmitters include acetylcholine, norepinephine, dopamine and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). This decline may just reflect the loss of the cells occurring during normal aging or it may explain many of the findings we see and the observations that are documented with regard to the aging brain. This is clearly an area where we need more research to determine the actual and specific effects of the decline of these neurotransmitters. And even more importantly what can we do to slow or prevent the process of the decline of these very important compounds that are needed to maintain proper brain function.

The nerve cells you are born with must last a lifetime since to the best of our knowledge nerve cells do not divide. If a nerve cell is destroyed by aging, trauma, or disease it is not replaced.

Lipofusion is the aging pigment that we see in nerve cells. As nerve cells age they dropout. They lose connections to adjacent nerve cells (dentrites). What can be done to prevent this deterioration and dropout of nerve cells, such as the use of antioxidants for example vitamin C and E are thought to counteract some of these changes.

There is a significant role to play in helping to minimize the aging process of the nervous system and to maximize the function of your brain. Prevention is the key to preserving a healthy brain. Many age-related deficiencies can be prevented, by focusing on the seven steps to maintaining a healthy brain.