Neurogenesis: How to Change Your Brain

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Perlmutter, M.D.

Board-Certified Neurologist and author of upcoming book, " Power Up Your Brain. "

Posted: November 2, 2010 07:26 AM

Neurogenesis: How to Change Your Brain

" In adult centers the nerve paths are something fixed, ended, immutable.

Everything may die, nothing may be regenerated. "

-- Santiago Ramon Y Cajal, " Degeneration and Regeneration in the Nervous

System, " 1928

This long-held tenet, first proposed by Professor Cajal, held that brain neurons

were unique because they lacked the ability to regenerate.

In 1998, the journal Nature Medicine published a report indicating that

neurogenesis, the growth of new brain cells, does indeed occur in humans. As

Sharon Begley remarked in her book, " Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain, " " The

discovery overturned generations of conventional wisdom in neuroscience. The

human brain is not limited to the neurons it is born with, or even the neurons

that fill in after the explosion of brain development in early childhood. "

What the researchers discovered was that within each of our brains there exists

a population of neural stem cells which are continually replenished and can

differentiate into brain neurons. Simply stated, we are all experiencing brain

stem cell therapy every moment of our lives.

As one might expect, the process of neurogenesis is controlled by our DNA. A

specific gene codes for the production of a protein, brain-derived neurotrophic

factor (BDNF) which plays a key role in creating new neurons. Studies reveal

decreased BDNF in Alzheimer's patients, as well as in a variety of neurological

conditions including epilepsy, depression, schizophrenia and

obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Fortunately, many of the factors that influence our DNA to produce BDNF factors

are under our direct control. The gene that turns on BDNF is activated by a

variety of factors including physical exercise, caloric restriction, curcumin

and the omega-3 fat, DHA.

This is a powerful message. These factors are all within our grasp and represent

choices we can make to turn on the gene for neurogenesis. Thus, we can treat

ourselves to stem cell therapy by taking control of our gene expression.

Physical Exercise

Laboratory rats that exercise have been shown to produce far more BDNF in their

brains compared to sedentary animals. And there is a direct relationship between

elevation of BDNF levels in these animals and their ability to learn, as one

might expect.

With this understanding of the relationship of BDNF to exercise, researchers in

a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, entitled " Effect of

Physical Activity in Cognitive Function in Older Adults at Risk for Alzheimer's

Disease, " found that elderly individuals engaged in regular physical exercise

for a 24-week period had an improvement of an astounding 1,800 percent on

measures of memory, language ability, attention and other important cognitive

functions compared to an age-matched group not involved in the exercise program.

The mechanism by which exercise enhances brain performance is described in these

and other studies as sitting squarely with increased production of BDNF. Just by

engaging in regular physical exercise, you open the door to the possibility of

actively taking control of your mental destiny.

Caloric Restriction

In January, 2009, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science published a

study entitled " Caloric Restriction Improves Memory in Elderly Humans. " In this

study, German researchers imposed a 30 percent calorie reduction on the diets of

elderly individuals and compared their memory function with a similar age group

who basically ate whatever they wanted. At the conclusion of the three-month

study, those who ate without restriction experienced a small, but clearly

defined decline in memory function, while memory function in the group consuming

the calorie-reduced diet actually increased, and fairly profoundly. In

recognition of the obvious limitations of current pharmaceutical approaches to

brain health, the authors concluded, " The present findings may help to develop

new prevention and treatment strategies for maintaining cognitive health into

old age. " What a concept. Preventive medicine for the brain.

Curcumin

Because curcumin, the main active ingredient in the spice turmeric, increases

BDNF, it has attracted the interest of neuroscientists around the world.

Interestingly, in evaluating villages in India where turmeric is used in

abundance in curried recipes, epidemiological studies have found that

Alzheimer's disease is only about 25 percent as common as in the U.S. There is

little doubt that the positive effects of enhanced BDNF production on brain

neurons is at least part of the reason why those consuming curcumin are so

resistant to this brain disorder.

DHA

Like curcumin, DHA enhances gene expression for the production of BDNF. In a

recently completed double-blind interventional trial, 485 healthy older

individuals (average age 70 years) with mild memory problems were given a

supplement containing DHA from marine algae or placebo for six months. Lead

researcher of the study, Dr. Karin Yurko-Mauro, commented, " In our study,

healthy people with memory complaints who took algal DHA capsules for six months

had almost double the reduction in errors on a test that measures learning and

memory performance versus those who took a placebo ... The benefit is roughly

equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years

younger. "

Harnessing the expression of our DNA is empowering, and the tools to better

brain health are available to us all -- right now!

Sources:

Results of the MIDAS trial: Effects of docosahexaenoic acid on physiological and

safety parameters in age-related cognitive decline. Karin Yurko-Mauro, Deanna

McCarthy, Eileen -Hall, B. , Blackwell, MIDAS

Investigators

Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, July 2009

(Vol. 5, Issue 4, Supplement, Page P84).

Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM is a Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellow of

the American College of Nutrition who received his M.D. degree from the

University of Miami School of Medicine where he was awarded the Leonard G.

Rowntree Research Award. After completing residency training in Neurology, also

at the University of Miami, Dr. Perlmutter entered private practice in Naples,

Florida.

This Blogger's Books from Amazon

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Power Up Your Brain: The Neuroscience of Enlightenment

Power Up Your Brain: The Neuroscience of Enlightenment

by Perlmutter M.D., Alberto Villoldo Ph.D.

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