When people grow old, the age related
problems increase- Mental and Physical both. Dementia in which there is a
progressive loss of memory, and reduction in cognitive ability occurs.
Alzheimer is other disease with neural disorder. With the age, the structure of
the brain changes. The part which is associated with learning, acquiring, and
maintaining memory it has neural cells. These neural cells get damaged or reduced.
So basically if the neural cells which are
associated with learning, memory-if these cells could be saved the disease
associated with memory would fade away.
Reason for Dementia, Mad cow and Others
Some studies suggest that a ‘risk gene’
called APOE4, and another one termed presenilin might be causing dementia.
A more important finding, and likely causative factor, comes
from the imaging of the brain. This has found the hippocampus and some other
parts of the brain to be tangled a bit, with some insoluble sheet-like ‘plaques’
which interfere with signal transmission in the brain.
Other reports have suggested the role of a protein called
brain-derived neurotropic factor or BDNF; when its level falls below optimum,
dementia results.
Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis
or AHN
The part is which is associated with learning and memory is
known as hippocampus. It contains neuro- progenitor cells which continue to
generate new neurons. The Process is called as Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis
or AHN.
Cure
Vaccination or immune therapy did not work well with the neuron re- generation. However, exercise
helped. The Exercise stimulates neurogenesis – or the generation of the new
cells, these were finding of a research. During Exercise in case of a rodent which has Alzeheimer, the
experiment was done with exercise, and the result was positive-
1.
ANH was increases, more nerve
cells were seen to be made
2.
The plaques in the brain of the
animal were reduced
3.
The level of molecule BDNF went up
4.
There was some improvement in
memory.
Life expectancy has increased due to availability of medicines but at the same time the problems related to age have also grown in numbers. The challenges in societies are to find the cure. Exercising helped in 'creation of new cells' and that is remarkable finding in itself.
