Mind Wellness, With the First Three Chapters Free

Chapter 1: Brain Training and Brain Games

Do you currently seem to be a little more forgetful? Do you simply have a lot on your mind, or could getting older be the cause of this? It’s time to achieve mind wellness. It’s no secret that as we get older, our bodies change, including our brains. Put hope in motion. Many people fret about forgetfulness, but not everyone who struggles with memory has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Age-related forgetfulness is a common symptom of aging. Many older adults enjoy a good crossword puzzle, phone app game, or other activity to improve memory, attention, and focus, but are these brain games really helping your brain—especially against memory loss?

Is it possible to play brain games to keep your mind sharp? Hope in motion.

Our brain is dynamic and constantly changing throughout our lives, according to Jessica Langbaum, PhD, co-director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute’s Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative. Our brain continues to create new neurons and neuronal connections as we get older, she said. Over the course of your life, participating in cognitively stimulating activities and brain training can have a positive effect on how well your brain functions, including your memory, attention, thinking, language, and reasoning abilities.

Activities or exercises that challenge your ability to think are considered cognitively stimulating like hope in motion. Brain training, also known as cognitive training, aims to improve a specific brain function (such as memory, attention, your ability to switch between tasks, processing speed, etc.) by teaching strategies and offering guided practice. Think of cognitive training as a mental equivalent of a physical boot camp. According to Dr. Langbaum, some types of training can help adults perform daily tasks and show benefits for mood and wellbeing in addition to improving daily cognitive abilities.   Brain training appears to enhance cognitive abilities on the surface, but more research is required. “Several studies are investigating whether a particular type of cognitive training delays or reduces the risk of impairment in adults 65 and older, including the PACT Study.” said Dr. Langbaum.

The distinction between mental exercise and “brain games”

While some in-person programs use physical games or worksheets, the majority of contemporary brain training programs use computer game or handheld device formats. The distinction between brain games and brain training, however, is not clear. Recently, a lot of controversy has surrounded brain games due to the proliferation of businesses touting their advantages. Unfortunately, many fall short of the expectations. Brain games may be entertaining and engaging, and you may even get better at them, but these advancements haven’t been proven to significantly enhance cognitive functioning or general day-to-day functioning, according to Dr. Langbaum.

For instance, practicing Sudoku may get you better at Sudoku but won’t improve your overall cognitive abilities/ Many for-profit businesses misuse the term, frequently duping consumers into purchasing untested games that have no beneficial effects on memory or mental health. Even some businesses have received fines from the Federal Trade Commission for making such untrue claims. According to the proverb, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t.” It’s okay to play commercially available brain games; you might even find them enjoyable, according to Dr. Langbaum.

In light of this, look for peer-reviewed studies about any commercially available programs you’re interested in on their website. Playing only brain games won’t enhance cognitive function. Even though there are many gimmicks that promise to keep your mind and brain sharp, there are other actions you can take to support brain health. “The best things you can do are to get enough sleep, be physically active, eat nutrient-rich foods, and find stimulating activities that interest and challenge you,” Dr. Langbaum advised.  

What exercises are suggested to stimulate the brain?

Anything requiring attention, focus, and engagement qualifies as cognitively stimulating activity. There are many activities that will challenge your brain, such as gardening, chess, volunteering, and playing with your grandchildren. And there are numerous approaches you can try, whether they are done in person, on paper, on a computer or mobile device, etc. As noted, make sure there is enough evidence to support the training. “There are cognitive training programs targeting things like attention, memory or speed of processing that can improve that ability and everyday activities that rely on it,” Dr. Langbaum said.

For those who struggle with memory

There may be cognitively stimulating activities that can help a loved one with a memory impairment, such as mild cognitive impairment or dementia, maintain their independence in handling daily tasks or functions for a longer period of time. Activities like music or crafts, for instance, can keep dementia sufferers alert and occupied. Small-group participation in these activities fosters social engagement and interaction, both of which are advantageous. Maintaining social engagement is crucial for people with memory impairment, such as dementia, according to Dr. Langbaum. “Encouraging the activities that the person with dementia finds interesting and enjoyable can improve mood and support their overall mental health.” “Cognitive rehabilitation,” also known as reablement, can assist those with mild cognitive impairment in performing particular daily, self-care tasks. Programs for improving memory or processing speed, however, have not proven beneficial for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.

Last word

Our brains’ remarkable adaptability to changes over the course of a lifetime is truly amazing. One effective strategy for enhancing your brain’s health and wellbeing is to engage in cognitively stimulating activities. Try something new and push yourself to perform more difficult variations of your favorite activities. It demonstrates that even a “old (or not so old!) dog” can learn new tricks.
 

Chapter 2: Neuroplasticity

The brain’s capacity to adapt and change as a result of experience is known as neuroplasticity. It is a general term for the brain’s capacity to modify, rearrange, or expand neural networks. This may involve structural changes brought on by learning or functional changes brought on by brain damage.             The term “plasticity” describes the brain’s malleability or capacity for change. Neuro is short for neurons, which are the nerve cells that make up the brain and nervous system. Thus, neuroplasticity enables adjustments or changes in nerve cells.

Neuroplasticity Types

The two main forms of neuroplasticity are as follows:

1. The brain’s capacity to transfer functions from one damaged area to another unharmed area is known as functional plasticity.
2. The brain’s capacity to actually alter its physical makeup as a result of learning is known as structural plasticity.

 The Workings of Neuroplasticity

The brain grows quickly in a child’s first few years of life. Every cerebral cortex neuron has about 2,500 synapses, or tiny spaces between neurons, where nerve impulses are relayed, at birth. This number has increased to a staggering 15,000 synapses per neuron by the age of three. However, the average adult only has about half as many synapses. Why? Because some connections grow stronger as we acquire new experiences while others fade away. Synaptic pruning is the term for this process. Stronger connections form between frequently used neurons. Those that are used infrequently or never pass away eventually. The brain can adjust to a changing environment by creating new connections and removing weak ones.

Neuroplasticity’s advantages

Having an adaptable and flexible brain supports:

• the capacity to pick up new skills
• the capacity to improve current cognitive abilities
• stroke and traumatic brain injury recovery
• bolstering areas where function has decreased or been lost
• Enhancements to improve mental fitness

Neuroplasticity Characteristics

Age and Environment Are Important While plasticity is present throughout life, some changes are more pronounced at particular ages. For instance, as the developing brain develops and organizes itself during the early years of life, the brain frequently undergoes significant changes. Younger brains are typically more receptive and sensitive to experiences than brains that are much older. This does not, however, imply that adult brains are incapable of adapting. Additionally, there may be a genetic component. The interaction of genetics and environment also influences how plastic the brain is.

The Process of Neuroplasticity is Continuous

Brain cells other than neurons, such as glial and vascular cells, are continually plastic throughout life. It can happen as a result of brain injury or as a result of learning, experience, and memory formation. The brain is constantly changing in response to learning, contrary to popular belief, which held that the brain became fixed after a certain age. The parts of the brain connected to particular functions may sustain injury in situations where the brain is damaged, such as during a stroke. Eventually, healthy brain regions may take over those tasks, allowing the abilities to return.

Limitations of Brain Plasticity

But it’s important to remember that the brain’s plasticity is limited. Certain actions are primarily controlled by specific regions of the brain. For instance, certain parts of the brain are crucial for speech, language, movement, and cognition. Deficits in those areas may result from damage to important parts of the brain because, despite some recovery being possible, those functions simply cannot be fully replaced by other parts of the brain.

Enhancing Neuroplasticity

At any age, there are things you can do to encourage your brain to adapt and change. Improve the Environment It has been demonstrated that learning environments that provide lots of opportunities for focused attention, novelty, and challenge encourage beneficial changes in the brain. While this is especially crucial during childhood and adolescence, an enriching environment can still benefit your brain well into adulthood. Your brain could be stimulated by:

• Taking language classes
• playing an instrument and taking lessons
• exploring new locations while traveling
• Making art and other forms of creativity
• Reading
• Get Lots of Sleep

Sleep plays a significant role in dendritic growth in the brain, according to research. The growths at the ends of neurons known as dendrites aid in the communication of information from one neuron to the next. You might be able to promote more brain plasticity by fortifying these connections. It has been established that sleep has significant effects on both physical and mental health. According to some researchers, this may be partially inherited and partially caused by the structure of the brain’s grey matter.

By following good sleep hygiene, you can enhance your quality of sleep. This entails creating a regular sleep schedule and an atmosphere that promotes sound sleep.

Exercise consistently

There are many advantages to regular physical activity for the brain. Exercise may help prevent neuron loss in important regions of the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in memory and other functions, according to some research. Other research suggests that physical activity aids in the development of new neurons in the same region. According to a study published in 2021, physical activity also appears to increase brain plasticity through its effects on the basal ganglia, which controls movement and learning, functional connectivity, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that affects nerve growth.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises engaging in at least two days a week of strength training activities, such as lifting weights or using your own body weight, and at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio activity (such as walking, dancing, swimming, or cycling). Develop mindfulness Being fully present in the moment, without dwelling on the past or planning for the future, is what mindfulness entails. The key is to be aware of the sights, sounds, and sensations around you. Numerous studies have demonstrated that developing and using mindfulness can promote the neuroplasticity of the brain. Games to play aren’t just for kids: Playing board, card, video, and other games has been shown to increase neuroplasticity in the brain.

Concerns Regarding Brain Plasticity

Although changes in the brain are frequently viewed as improvements, this is not always the case. The structure and operation of the brain may occasionally be adversely affected or altered. For instance, when it permits negative changes brought on by drug use, illness, or trauma (such as brain injury or traumatic events that lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD), brain plasticity may be problematic. Brain plasticity can be negatively impacted by even lead poisoning. Additionally, certain medical conditions may restrict or impede brain plasticity. Pediatric neurological conditions like epilepsy, cerebral palsy, tuberous sclerosis, and Fragile X syndrome are among them.

The Discovery of Neuroplasticity

Theories and beliefs about how the brain functions have changed significantly over time. Early scientists thought that the brain was “fixed,” but more recent research has revealed that the brain is more flexible. Initial theories Researchers thought that only during infancy and childhood could the brain undergo changes until the 1960s.

Early in adulthood, it was thought that the physical makeup of the brain was largely fixed. Norman Doidge, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, proposed that this idea that the brain is incapable of change primarily stemmed from three main sources in his 2007 book “The Brain that Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science,” which took a historical look at early theories. William James, a psychologist, first proposed that the brain might not be as static as previously thought. “The Principles of Psychology,” a book he wrote in 1890, contained the following passage: “Organic matter, especially nervous tissue, seems endowed with a very extraordinary degree of plasticity.”

But for many years, this concept was largely ignored. Current Theories Karl Lashley, a researcher, discovered evidence of alterations in the rhesus monkeys’ neural pathways in the 1920s. The ability of elderly people who had experienced severe strokes to recover function was studied by researchers in the 1960s, proving that the brain was more malleable than previously thought. Modern researchers have also discovered proof that the brain can heal itself after injury. In order to adapt to new experiences, learn new information, and form new memories, the brain continuously creates new neural pathways and modifies existing ones, according to contemporary research.

Technology advancements have made it possible for researchers to take a previously unattainable look inside the brain. Research has shown that people are not limited to the mental abilities they are born with and that damaged brains are frequently quite capable of remarkable change as modern neuroscience research flourishes.
 

Chapter 3: Neurogenesis

New neurons are formed in the brain both during fetal development and as adults through a process known as neurogenesis. It is now known that neurogenesis does not only take place during embryonic development, as was once thought to be the case. There are billions of cells in the human brain, including glia, neurons, and an unknown number of subtypes. The majority of these cells are produced in the very early stages of development, in embryonic stages.

Early neurogenesis starts with the formation of a neural groove, which separates the neural plate from the ectoderm (early embryonic development’s outermost germ layer). The neural crest, a temporary group of cells, and the neural tube, which is the precursor to the central nervous system (CNS), are created as a result of this fusion. The development of tissues and organs is aided by neural crest stem cells, which are produced after the neural crest produces its own neural crest stem cells.

Neurogenesis occurs during embryonic development and is particularly important during development because it is the cause of the variety of neurons in the brain. `The neural stem cells differentiate during neurogenesis, which means that they will change into one of several specialized cell types at particular times and locations within the brain. Numerous animal species have been found to exhibit signs of self-healing and ongoing neuronal growth.

Mammalian brains were believed to be an exception to this rule, though. It was known that other cells could divide in adults and react to injury, including microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Only the neurons were thought to be incapable of self-replication despite the ability of these cells to divide. It is now known that adult neurogenesis is possible and that this limitation on neurons is untrue. Adult neurogenesis was allegedly first discovered in the 1960s. In this decade, studies led by Altman and Das (1965) produced the first anatomical proof of the existence of newly developed neurons in the hippocampus of adult rats.   Similar findings were made by Paton and Nottebohm (1984), who discovered functional integration of recently developed neurons in songbirds’ central nervous systems.

It took until the 1990s for the field as a whole to accept that adult neurogenesis has a role to play in brain function, despite evidence of its existence dating back to the 1960s. The realization of this discovery was made possible by fundamental researchers Richards, Kilpatrick, and Bartlett (1992). These scientists found that adult mice’s brains contained neural stem cells. It was decided that since neurogenesis requires neural stem cells, it can take place in mammalian brains. Since the discovery of mammalian neural stem cells, significant developments have been made in almost every aspect of adult neurogenesis in the mammalian CNS.

Adult neurogenesis may only occur in the subgranular zone (SGZ) and the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the brain, according to recent research. The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, which has been shown to be the area where new dentate granule cells—small cells crucial for learning—are generated—is where the SGZ is situated. The lateral ventricles are where new neurons are produced, but the SVZ is where they migrate to the olfactory bulb (a region involved in smell) to develop into interneurons

How Neurogenesis Takes Place

Neurogenic signals serve as the initial stimulus for the brain’s neurogenesis process. These might result from a variety of things, like stimulated activity in particular brain regions. In turn, this promotes the growth and stimulation of neural stem cells. These stem cells will then either differentiate to produce neural progenitor cells or they will divide endlessly to produce more stem cells. Between stem cells and fully developed neurons are neural progenitor cells.

The neural progenitor cells are now differentiating to create particular varieties of neurons. Similarly, gliogenic signals activate glial cells, which are CNS cells with supportive roles, to support the stimulation of neural stem cells. The gliogenic neural stem cells will then differentiate into glial progenitors, which will then become support cells like oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Instead of being called neurogenesis, this process is called gliogenesis.

It has been established that the neuroepithelial cells, radial glial cells, and basal progenitors are the three classes of stem and progenitor cells from which mammals’ central nervous systems (CNS) develop. The beginning of neurogenesis converts neuroepithelial cells into radial glial cells, which are in charge of producing all of the CNS’s neurons, including astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, which are supportive cells. In adult mammals, neurogenesis has been found to take place primarily in two regions: the subventricular zone (SVZ) that extends throughout the lateral ventricles of the brain and the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus.

Humans’ temporal lobes contain the hippocampus, which is a component of the limbic system. This area of the brain is crucial for creating new memories, recalling those memories, and learning. The proteins that start the process of neurogenesis are produced by astrocyte cells in the dendrite gyrus of the hippocampus. The dendrite gyrus uses neurogenesis to aid in the encoding of new information. In animal studies, neurogenesis in this area is assessed by giving the animals’ brains an injection of a radioactive marker that binds to dividing cells.

When the animal dies, counting the marked cells will reveal exactly how many cells have multiplied. Within the hippocampus, adult-born neurons are produced at a rate of about 700 per day. A person’s lifetime results in the replacement of about one-third of the neurons in the hippocampus. It is believed that adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus is essential for controlling mood, spatial memory, and the ability to store new memories. However, the hippocampus’s preexisting memories may be interfered with by the growth of new brain cells there.

The hippocampus is where most memories are created before being sent elsewhere for long-term storage. The memories persist for a while in the hippocampus as well as other brain areas for a few years before the hippocampus is cleared of them. The influx of new cells may compromise the memories already stored there until the pre-existing memories are fully transferred. This could be the cause of why we don’t always remember things from our early years. SVZ of the lateral ventricles eventually transfers neurogenesis to the olfactory bulb.

The olfactory bulb is a structure in both cerebral hemispheres that is close to the front of the brain and that receives neural information about odors. The SVZ’s ability to generate new cells could be inhibited, which could have an adverse effect on cognitive function, including olfactory memory. Recent studies have revealed that adult neurogenesis can also take place in the amygdala, a part of the brain critical for processing emotional memories, in addition to the SVZ and SGZ. This may be how new emotional memories are created, but more research is needed in this area.

How Important Is Neurogenesis?

The discovery of neurogenesis in the adult human brain suggests that this could be crucial for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease because stem cells can divide and differentiate into many different types of cells. Alzheimer’s disease does not currently have a treatment. Neuroscientists are currently focused on creating strategies to boost neurogenesis in the hippocampus using stem and progenitor cells from the brain.

They might be able to treat these neurodegenerative conditions, as well as possibly age-related memory and cognitive decline, and mental illness, if they are successful in boosting the generation of new neurons in this region. Neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, also referred to as a change in activity during synaptic transmission, frequently interact with one another. A neurophysiological indicator of learning, synaptic plasticity refers to the brain’s capacity to reorganize and adapt in response to the external environment. It has been discovered that after a stroke or seizure, the brain in rodents can produce new cells to help it heal.

As a result of the damage, neurogenesis was increased. This has repercussions for therapeutic techniques for repairing the brain after suffering from brain damage. Researchers are currently looking into ways to wake up dormant stem cells in the event that the areas where neurons are found sustain damage. In order to encourage stem cells to repair the damage, other researchers are looking for a way to transplant them directly into damaged areas. Similar to this, scientists are attempting to extract stem cells from other sources, such as embryos, in order to direct these cells to differentiate into neurons or glia.

Finally, techniques to encourage the amygdala to generate new brain cells may be able to treat conditions like anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression that are linked to fear. Aging is the primary factor causing a decrease in neurogenesis. Since disease is not the cause of the brain’s natural degeneration, it cannot be stopped.

Despite this, research has shown that the majority of neurons actually remain healthy until death, but between the ages of 20 and 90, brain volume can decrease by about 5 to 10%. Additionally, it has been proposed that lifestyle elements like inadequate sleep, inactivity, and foods that raise blood glucose levels can all result in a reduction in neurogenesis. Also, mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder have been linked to a decrease in neurogenesis.

On the other hand, it has been proposed that exercise may boost neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus, leading to the production of more new neurons. A healthy diet, learning, and social interaction can also promote adult neurogenesis. In essence, it is believed that activities that can positively stimulate the brain in the production of new cells. Antidepressant medications and electroconvulsive therapy have also been discovered to be effective ways to boost neurogenesis.

To continue reading, check out: