Brain Health: the Bad, the Good and… the Beautiful!

The brain is undeniably control central in the human body. Where would we be without our brain? The bad news is that currently we have a huge increase worldwide of numerous neurological/brain disorders. Statistically speaking, at least seemingly everyone is affected by this phenomenon either by him or herself, through a family member, a friend, or a colleague. There is ample research, which shows that the environment, our genetics as well as our lifestyle play a role here.

~ Turning On or Off Your Genes ~

According to new research from Bournemouth University, Professor Colin Pritchard’s findings show that “Modern living” is believed to be responsible for an “almost epidemic” increase in neurological brain diseases. Pritchard states, “the changes in human morbidity, including neurological disease is remarkable and points to environmental influences.” 1.

With Alzheimer’s as well as with other neurodegenerative diseases, there can be a genetic component. For example, two specific DNA gene sequences: APOE3 and more seriously APOE4 are directly tied to early and late set Alzheimer’s disease. But, let’s not despair! Thanks to Epigenetics, specific gene expression can go either way. We each have the capacity through our personal lifestyle to either turn genes on, or to keep genes in check and turned off, so to speak. This finding is linked to a more general reconsideration of how the brain works and evolves.

 ~ The Static or Dynamic Brain ~

The Traditional View of the brain saw our brain as a static organ, as having a finite number of brain cells that would only decrease over time. On the contrary, the New View of the brain is a much more dynamic one. This New View emerged from a number of papers published in the late1990s. This view embodies the newly accepted concept of neurogenesis; which is the notion that you can regenerate your brain through both your brain cells and their connections to each other. This New View of the brain is not just a scientific or theoretical finding; it encompasses important implications for the betterment of our own daily lives and for our future.

So, the good news is that this New View on the brain offers us great hope! Recent exciting research in this area breaks new ground in both preventing and dealing with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s.

~ Aerobics Breathes New Life into Your Brain ~

For reactivating the brain through neurogenesis, research shows a direct correlation between aerobic exercise and increasing brain size in the hippocampus (the region of the brain for short term memory and receptive language). One particular report published by Harvard Health Studies, cites how at the University of British Columbia, researchers found “regular aerobic exercise, the kind that gets your heart and your sweat glands pumping, appears to boost the size of the hippocampus”. 2. In a series of other studies from Professor Kirk Erikson’s work at University of Pittsburgh, findings also show that “the brain is vastly and positively affected by physical exercise and that aerobic exercise actually can increase the size of the hippocampus”. 3. So, cardio vascular training is the take home message for neurogenesis. Unfortunately, this type of stressful exercise is likely too much for many of our seniors, especially those with dementia. Used as a preventative strategy however, aerobic exercise can benefit the rest of us. But, don’t worry; you won’t need to run a marathon. The beautiful news is that with physical exercise from a very simple walking program, positive benefits can be felt during each step of the way. Proceed slowly and then incrementally build as you go. As the theory goes, your brain and not just your body will love it.

~ Off I Go! ~

I must confess that with the stress of my seminars, my “wheel of life” has become definitely out of balance as I had not seen the inside of a gym for over two months. So today, while writing this blog piece I decided to purposefully put science into practice and went off to the gym for a cardio brain break.

My brain loved it!

A Votre Santé,
Alyce Childers
holistichomehealth ©

1.https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150806091328.htm

2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110
3. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jar/2013/657508/abs/