Aging brain

About: Aging brain is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1255 publications have been published within this topic receiving 66405 citations.

Trophic Factors in Brain Aging and Disease

Abstract: Success in treating and preventing infection and vascular disease has led to a significant increase in the number of people over the age of 65. This increase in the elderly population has focused attention on normal changes of the aging brain and the chronic disorders that may develop during the aging process. Clearly, such disorders are not inevitable consequences of aging, but they are present to a greater extent in aged individuals. The two common conditions which fall into this category are parkinsonism and Alzheimer’s disease. Both of these devastating diseases of the nervous system are degenerative disorders of unknown origin. In each, multiple etiologies, including viral or immunologic causes, have been implicated but never proven. Both conditions reflect pathologic changes in relatively limited pathways within the central nervous system. In Alzheimer’s disease and, to a much lesser extent, Parkinson’s disease, changes are noted which are known to occur in healthy older individuals. Thus, both conditions may represent accelerated aging of specific neuronal pathways. In order to understand the quantitative alterations in the brain of patients with these disorders, it is necessary to define the extent to which normal individuals demonstrate alterations in the number of neurons, in microscopic pathology, and in neurotransmitter metabolism during the aging process.

Central hypoxia models and correlations with aging brain

Abstract: Impaired cerebral oxygen supply, of different organic and functional origins, is a usual concomitant of aging. Therefore enhanced resistance conferred by drugs in hypoxia and related situations is of potential therapeutic predictive value. Sequential pharmacological studies are reported with several drugs, including nootropics, that, among other indications, are used in geropsychiatry. The experiment models are: survival in mice to a nitrogen hypoxia and a curare-like short-acting agent; the same in bilateral carotid ligated rats and in unilateral ligated ones to subsequent nitrogen-hypoxia; EEG resistance and recovery after nitrogen-hypoxia as well as survival and EEG criteria after barbiturate intoxication in rabbits.

Role of Lifestyle in Neuroplasticity and Neurogenesis in an Aging Brain.

Abstract: Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to transform its shape, adapt, and develop a new neuronal connection provided with a new stimulus. The stronger the electrical stimulation, the robust is the transformation. Neurogenesis is a complex process when the new neuronal blast cells present in the dentate gyrus divide in the hippocampus. We collected articles from the past 11 years for review, using the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) strategy from PubMed. Quality appraisal was done for each research article using various assessment tools. A total of 24 articles were chosen, applying all the mentioned inclusion and exclusion criteria and reviewed. The reviewed studies emphasized that modifiable lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise should be implemented as an intervention in the elderly for healthy aging of the brain, as the world's aging population is going to be increased, leading to the expansion of health care and cost. Multiple studies have publicized the relation of diet and exercise with cognition function in aging people. A diet consisting of curcumin in its food has its anti-oxidative property, which prevents rapid aging of the brain, other diet patterns such as a caloric restriction diet can influence brain plasticity and preclude the decline of memory. Exercise can increase brain-derived growth factor (BDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), synapsin one, and tyrosine kinase activity that can expand the size of the brain, enhance the plasticity and neurogenesis. This review aimed at exploring lifestyle factors that contribute to neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. Thus, providing a new path for clinicians and researchers to map out the future possible significant benefits for optimal brain aging in a healthy fashion.