The Changing Brain in Healthy Aging

As people age, they change in a myriad of ways — both biological and psychological. Some of these changes may be for the better, and others are not.

Age is a major risk factor for most common neurodegenerative diseases, including Mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), cerebrovascular disease and Parkinson’s disease. While much research has focused on diseases of aging, there are few informative studies on the molecular biology of the aging brain in the absence of neurodegenerative disease or the neuropsychological profile of healthy older adults. However, research does suggest that the aging process is associated with several structural, chemical, and functional changes in the brain as well as a host of neurocognitive changes.

As a person gets older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain:

1. Structural changes:

  • More recent MRI studies have reported age-related regional decreases in cerebral volume. It has noted that there is a decrease in grey matter volume between adulthood and old age, whereas white matter volume was found to increase from age 19-40, and decline after this age.  Certain parts of the brain shrink especially the prefrontal cortex (an area at the front of the frontal lobe) and the hippocampus. Both areas are important to learning, memory, planning, and other complex mental activities.
  • Damage by free radicals increases (free radicals are a kind of molecule that reacts easily with other molecules).

2.Neural and Neurotransmitter Changes:

Changes in neurons and neurotransmitters affect communication between neurons. In certain brain regions, communication between neurons can be reduced because white matter (myelin-covered axons) is degraded or lost. An overwhelming number of studies have reported age-related changes in dopamine, Serotonin and Glutamate synthesis, binding sites, and number of receptors.

3.Blood circulation Changes:

  • Changes in the brain’s blood vessels occur. Blood flow can be reduced because arteries narrow and less growth of new capillaries occurs.
  • In some people, structures called plaques and tangles develop outside and inside of neurons, respectively, although in much smaller amounts than in AD.

4.Cognitive changes:

  • Cognitive impairment has been attributed to oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions and changes in the cerebral microvasculature. Inflammation increases (inflammation is the complex process that occurs when the body responds to an injury, disease, or abnormal situation).

What effects does aging have on mental function in healthy older people?

Some people may notice a modest decline in their ability to learn new things and retrieve information, such as remembering names. They may perform worse on complex tasks of attention, learning, and memory than would a younger person.

It also appears that additional brain regions can be activated in older adults during cognitive tasks, such as taking a memory test. Researchers do not fully understand why this happens, but one idea is that the brain engages mechanisms to compensate for difficulties that certain regions may be having. For example, the brain may recruit alternate brain networks in order to perform a task. These variations and recruitments can improve by lifestyle and Nootrophics.

Delaying the effects of aging on brain function:

The process of aging may be inevitable; however one may potentially delay the effects and severity of this progression. While there is no consensus of efficacy, the following are reported as delaying cognitive decline:

  • High level of education
  • Physical exercise
  • Staying intellectually engaged, i.e. reading and mental activities (such as crossword puzzles)
  • Maintaining social and friendship networks
  • Maintaining a healthy diet, including Nootrophics, and protective antioxidants

Brain Aging reduction with Nootropics

Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s and brain aging cannot be reversed at this time but damages can possibly be prevented. The obvious theory is that the reduction of free radicals may reduce the chances of mental decline that leads to Alzheimer’s. This theory is much like the theory of reducing cancer development by reducing overall free radical levels in a lifetime. Lowering the level of oxidative free radicals in the brain is likely to reduce the chances of mental deterioration. Periodic or lifetime used of Nootropics may help.

What are Nootrophics?

Nootropics are a class of nutrients, supplements, smart drugs, and nutraceuticals that are observed to improve brain performance and health. They may increase memory, learning, reasoning, intelligence, cognitive processing speed, verbal fluidity, attention, focus, motivation, mood and energy. They work in a variety of different ways, though many share similar mechanisms of action. Some increase the supply of neurtransmitters and other neurochemicals that are involved in intra- and inter-neuron communication as well as brain signalling pathways related to cognition, memory formation and recall. Some may enhance brain activity by modulating neuroreceptors, increasing the uptake of oxygen, glucose and other nutrients into brain cells or by promoting the underlying health of brain systems. Still other nootropics have been shown to stimulate the development of new neurons ans synapses, increases the overall plasticity of the brain.

The phrase “nootropic” was coined by Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea following the discovery of a remarkable substance belong to “Racetam family”. This was truly an unprecedented discovery and it opened the door to developing other cognitive enhancement drugs that could improve mental functioning in healthy adults as well as those suffering from brain disorders.

Today, about  120 kinds of Nootropics are used by a broad range of society and for a broad range of purposes from improving academic performance to boosting productivity to supporting healthy brain function and preventing cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Where’s the evidence for Nootrophics?

Many studies indicate that Nootrophics are effective in treating a range of brain-related and other health conditions including:

  • Alcohol addiction and withdrawal
  • Brain aging
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Amnesia
  • Epilepsy
  • Heart disease and hypertension
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Schizophrenia
  • Stroke
  • Vertigo

In Nervous system Nootrophics cause:

  • Potential nerve growth
  • Detoxification
  • Protecting the brain from hypoxia
  • Brain hemisphere communication
  • Enhanced memory and learning

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