RCSI Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Coliste Roga na Minle in

irinn

What happens to our brain as we age?

Dr. Helena Bonner

Outline of Talk
-Basic Brain Anatomy:
- 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

onset brain aging

Anatomy of Brain
Cortex

Pre- frontal cortex

Hippocampus

Cerebellum

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

Physical Changes
Ageing 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 the
possibility 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

Alzeimhers Brain- inflammation

Senile plaques and
neurofibrillary
Diffuse plaque
tangles.

Normal Brian

AD Brain

Beta amyloid immunostain.

Amyloid in plaques and
vessels in the cerebral cortex

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 brain
has 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.
Amens many years of experience, Making
a Good Brain Great is a positive and
practical road map for enriching and
improving your own greatest assetyour
brain.