RCSI Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Coláiste Ríoga na Máinleá in Éirinn

‘What happens to our brain as we age?’

Dr. Helena Bonner

Outline of Talk

- what Areas are Affected by Aging- Physical Changes

• Factors affecting Brain Aging

• Aging related Brain diseases

•Neuroplasticity -

• Neurogenesis-

• What can we do to improve our brain power and delay the onset brain aging

-Basic Brain Anatomy:

Hippocampus

Anatomy of Brain

Pre- frontal cortex

Cerebellum

Cortex

http://www.brainline.org/multimedia/interactive_brain/the_human_brain.html?gclid=CNLw372q08gCFeF02wod-ZQLTg

Physical ChangesAgeing has its effects on the molecules, cells, vasculature, gross morphology,and cognition.

-brains shrink in volume, particularly in the frontal cortex.

-As our vasculature ages and our blood pressure rises thepossibility of stroke and ischaemia increases and our white matter develops lesions.

-Memory decline also occurs with ageing and brain activation becomes more bilateral for memory tasks

Cognitive Changes

Cognitive Changes

Diffuse plaque

Senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.

Beta amyloid immunostain. Amyloid in plaques and vessels in the cerebral cortex

Alzeimhers Brain- inflammation

Normal Brian

AD Brain

Neurogenesis

-The ability to generate neurons derived from local stem cells Physical activity and an enriched environment, i.e., more opportunity for social interaction, physical activity, and learning, have been shown to improve the rate of neurogenesis and maintenance of these new cells.

-Overturned the long-held dogma that the adult brainhas no capacity for generating new neurons

-Increased neurogenesis correlates with increased network activity and improved cognition

http://neurogenesis101.weebly.com/importance.html

-How does this relate to Aging?

Erickson and Gage 1998 Nature Medicine

Ireland 1/5 th of Japanese (29 lbs)

•how to eat right to think right

•how to protect your brain from injuries and toxic substances

•how to nourish your brain with vitamins and do mental workouts to keep it strong

•the critical component of physical exercise, and which kinds work best

•how to rid your brain of negative thoughts, counteract stress, and much more

Full of encouraging anecdotes from Dr. Amen’s many years of experience, Making a Good Brain Great is a positive and practical road map for enriching and improving your own greatest asset—your brain.