Friday 9 December 2016

Brain and Research - Interesting Reads



When it comes to health many of the times people have different opinions. Everyday one can view a significant positive health observation or dietary FAD. No one really knows the actual fact that one can rely upon. Things change from time to time. I was going through a section of indecisive idioms which i feel can absolutely relate to observations in health.

Indecisive idioms : Not all of them will always make sense

1. The pen is mightier than the sword - Agreed
    Actions speak louder than words - Agreed  again

 In short Words and action both can make the same  difference.

2. What you see is what you get - Agreed
     Dont judge a book by its cover - Agreed again

Yup, Do what needs to be done, Read the book.

3. Birds of a feather flock together.
    Opposites attract

Yup, Both have their significant importance. All laws of nature don't need to be agreed upon.

4. Many hands make light work.
    Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Agreed on both of them. Again each has his own precedence.

5. Out of sight, out of mind
    Absence makes heart grow fonder

Amen to both of these lines.

I guess each has its importance with respective case scenarios. So the same is with health i guess. Each new FAD has to be tailormade to suit a persons primary health objective. In short if new things work one should stick with them. It is not necessary that it should work for all. There is no universal answer to any question is what i feel. All are entitled to their own opinion which makes us all different. All have their own distinct thinking apparatus which makes us all to put the world under a magnifying glass and come to a consensus.

Talking of thinking apparatus i have gone through some cool brain research and other medical research that has been going on lately. David Eagleman a neuroscientist in his article FROM THE BRAIN: THE STORY OF YOU talks about hacking our own hardware and as a result our brains don't need to remain as we've inherited them. I really don't understand what he is trying to say and for gods sake if one can hack my brain i am toast for sure. If i have the chance to talk to him i would like him to elaborate on the given line.

Anyways i have taken few points from his article and others to put in my curiosity notes.

1. Every human being enters the world with a remarkably unfinished brain. The reason to the given assertion is well known. Apart from that few know that animals do much better in this department.

For example Dolphins are born swimming. Giraffes learn to stand within hours.

Baby animals develop quickly because their brains wire upto a pre-programmed routine. However the preparedness trades off with flexibility. Inspite of seeming limitations that humans have on comparison with animals, humans have a advantage when it comes to flexibility. Humans have the ability to adapt unlike animals who need a given habitat.

2. A human brain is shaped by life experiences. It is live wired. Our flexibility derives not from the growth of new cells but from how these cells are connected. A babys neurons forms two million communications every second as they take information. By the age of 2 a child has over 10 trillion synapses. 10 trillion synapses is double the amount than a mature adult has. This peak represents far more connections than the brain will ever need.

3. Incredible blooming is supplanted by "Neural pruning.' As you mature through teens 50 % of synapses will be paired back. When a synapse successfully participates in a circuit it is strengthened. Synapses that arent used are weakened or eventually eliminated.

4. By the age of 25 only that a human brain completely develops. Even in adulthood brain can form new connections. The brain generated 10-15 watts of energy enough to power an LED bulb.Brain comprises of 2 % of weight but uses 20 % of oxygen and glucose.

Experiments done on brain forming new connections after 25 and their long term benefits.

Hippocampus is the area where memories are stored. This experiment was done on London cab drivers

London has 320 roadways and 25,000 individual streets. MRI scans done on London cab drivers by UCL London shows that Posterior hippocampus a area vital for spatial memory had grown physically larger than the hippocampus of the control group. In short whatever you have experienced has left a footprint on the nervous system.

Another experiment done by David Bennett Rush University, Chicago called Religious order study had 1,100 clergy members across the US. They had periodic medical and psychological evaluation. Experiment was to find the reasons of cognitive decline and study the common causes. Over the course of time as per their demise the remains have been collected. Over 350 specimens have been evaluated so far. Few samples collected had full blown Alzheimer pathology. Altough brain tissue ravaged by the disease there was no cognitive loss. What was concluded is keeping the brain active with mental exercise is protective. Doing this can build cognitive reserve. Results have also  shown that frontal lobe is vulnerable to degeneration with the effects of aging, Older adults who worked on board games have had a higher brain volume in cognitive function.

Other experiments done on nutrition, having heart healthy habits and exercise in relationship to cognitive decline showed better outcomes in cognitive function.

Well what i have to conclude is with brain forming more connections has a good outcome in a persons life. Apart from that you are what you eat and eating healthy too has shown to have a significant impact on brain health.









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