How to rejuvenate your brain
Health / / December 19, 2019
Richard Friedman (Richard Friedman)
Clinical professor of psychiatry at Cornell University (USA), science writer The New York Times.
What is neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity - it is the brain's ability to form new neural connections and change under the influence of experience. It is best developed in childhood and adolescence, when the brain is just developing. Until recently, neuroscience view was that once a person has passed the stage of formation of the person, it is very difficult or even impossible to correct the effects of early experience.
But what if we could return to the brain in its early plastic state? Now scientists are exploring this possibility in animals and humans. It is believed that during the critical stages of brain development of neural chains that participate in the development of behaviors have yet to form and are particularly sensitive to the effects of new experiences. If we understand that the starts and stops of their education, we can learn how to restart them.
You can compare the plasticity of the brain with the molten glass. Glass in such a state is very pliable, but quickly hardens. However, if you put it in the oven, it will change shape again.
Something like the researchers were able to do with human property as an absolute ear for music. Absolute pitch - is the ability to accurately identify or reproduce any note without listening to pre-known sounds. It is very rare, occurring in approximately 0.01% of the people.
Typically, this skill is seen in those who started learn music six years earlier. When training starts after nine years, the absolute hearing develops much less often, and among those who began training as an adult, was found only a few such cases.
In 2013, British Columbia, scientists from the University conducted a study among participants without musical training, in which check whether you can restore the ability to develop absolute pitchValproate reopens critical-period learning of absolute pitch. . During the study, 24 participants were divided into two groups. Some received placebo, while others - a special preparation, stabilizing mood (valproic acid, which is usually applied in the treatment of bipolar affective disorder-). Then, two weeks All participants were trained to associate common names such as Sam and Sarah, with six different notes of the twelve-tone musical scale. Then changed preparations Group: Participants first placebo switched to valproic acid, and vice versa.
Upon completion of the experiment, scientists found that those who took a special preparation, is much better determined the correct note. The effect was impressive, even taking into account the possible influence of valproic acid on mood and cognitive function of participants.
The results of this experiment are interested many scientists. But how will we be able to return to its former brain plasticity?
How to return the brain plasticity
On the one hand, the neuroplasticity of the brain depends on its structure. Animals and, most likely, people around neurons eventually formed perineuronal net, a special intercellular substance that prevents the neurons change. On the other hand, the ductility is also related to the molecular structure of the brain, and here is where can help special drugs.
It turns out that there are some substances responsible for the beginning and ending stages of brain development. Among them - the histone deacetylase (HDAC). This substance stops the production of proteins that promote the ductility and thus leads to the end of the period when learning is given easily. Valproic acid blocks the action of HDAC and partially restores brain plasticity.
You are now, of course, thinking not have if those taking the mood stabilizer for treating bipolar disorder, increased neuroplasticity. Maybe. Scientists so far have no idea.
Neuroplasticity and mental illness
This study is interested in and psychiatrists, but for a different reason. Now they have a lot of time is spent on it to remove the consequences of psychological injuries sustained by patients in early childhood.
Three-quarters of all chronic mental disorder manifests before 25 years, and half of them are born in adulthood.
At this time, a person at the same time is under the greatest brain plasticity and at the peak of vulnerability to mental illness. Events of these years can affect not only the subsequent behavior of the person, but also on his DNA.
That is the conclusion, scientists have come, identifying a gene that increases the risk of developing schizophrenia by activating the destruction of the connections between neuronsSchizophrenia risk from complex variation of complement component 4. . During maturation of the body weak or unnecessary connections between neurons are usually removed to allow others to grow. Violation of this process, most likely due to the emergence of many diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and autism.
Further examples were found during observation of the rats. These rodents and humans found a surprising amount in common when it came to issues such as stress, anxiety and affection. In pups of rats found differences in DNA and behavior depending on how taking care of them the mother (measured by it's mostly how often the mother licking her cubs).
In the first week of life cubs less than caring mothers were more fearful and sensitive to the stress, and their DNA contained more methyl groups, which inhibit the gene expression process. Scientists have been able to reverse this effect, giving the rats matured trichostatin substance that blocks histone deacetylaseEpigenetic programming by maternal behavior. . This will remove a part of the methyl groups from DNA and nerve rats began to behave in the same way as the cubs caring mothers.
This study offers hope that the negative impact of childhood experiences on gene expression can then be eliminated. This is great news, because the stress experienced in early childhood is a risk factor for a variety of mental illnesses, including anxiety, Mood disorders, and some personality disorders. A study conducted in 2014 among children who have experienced abuse, and children, grown under normal conditions, it found an association between depressive symptoms and methyl groups DNAChild Abuse, Depression, and Methylation in Genes Involved with Stress, Neural Plasticity, and Brain Circuitry. .
summing up
Of course, it is impossible to completely eliminate from the life of all traumatic events, but these studies allow I hope that someday we will be able to reduce or even completely reverse the effects of psychological injury.
Nevertheless, the return of brain theory in the plastic state, there are negative aspects. Our brains are not in vain has a limited period of plasticity. Professor of neurology at Harvard University Takao Hensch (Takao Hensch) believes that the ductility takes a lot of energy. We will be very tired, if all the neural chain will be constantly active. Their reduction may occur to protect the brain.
In addition, we can not be sure that a new period of neuroplasticity will not hurt us. Perhaps it will be easier to learn Chinese, but at the same time, we will be more clearly remember all the frustrations and psychological trauma, which would rather forget.
Finally, our whole personality is hidden in these neural chains. Do we want to interfere with their work, if there is a risk to change its very essence?
However, it is difficult to resist when returning the brain neuroplasticity promises us deliverance from childhood psychological trauma and cure of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and autism.