Neuroplasticity

[paul456]

Happy New Year to all I hope this year is better than last.

Just wondering if anybody has heard of Neuroplasticity it’s a method of re-wiring the brain using various exercises over a period of time.

It helps to spark up new or other neurons to take over the damaged ones.

It has been proven to help stroke victims, people with MS and other brain conditions.

Might be worth having a look at or asking your Neurologist if he/she has any views.

You all take care.

Who Cares Wins?

[Cuds]

Hi Paul,its an interesting topic. Neuroplasticity itself is not the method, however. This is just the name given to the process the brain can go through to reorganise new pathways. It does this through neuro rehabilitation programmes and yes has been shown to have some success in acute brain injury, like stroke or head injury and in MS. There have also been studies done on the effect of rehabilitation on neuroplasticity in genetic ataxias and cerebellar ataxias. The key appears to be practice, practice, practice! Which is why fighting for ongoing rehabilitation programmes is important and keeping as active as possible. More research is needed, however, for it to be accepted clinically as evidence based practice - which is where people may come up against barriers. It is possible though to get a general programme from your physiotherapist or multi-disciplinary team and use that as your regular routine to help your central nervous system cope with deterioration. Unfortunately it is not a single programme of therapy but a lifestyle change - you stop working and the ataxia progresses again!

[paul456 in reply to Cuds]

Many thanks for your reply Cuds it’s all very interesting. You made it a lot clearer for my one brain cell to understand 👍🏻😊. You take care my friend.

[ww-wibblywobbly]

Hi Paul,

This I think is the only way forward for us ataxians. Repeating the same exercise or activity until finally it becomes easier. From my understanding, by doing this we create new neuron pathways in the brain.

Just remember not to continue until exhaustion, as that seems to take a long time to recover from!

I find when I start a new activity or exercise, it's absolutely exhausting at first. Then over time with repetition it becomes easier, but we need to learn our limits as if I continue for too long I'm exhausted. But with repetition over a long period of time things become easier.

Xx

[nigelrheath]

Hi PaulNorman Dodge has written an interesting book on this.

I am attempting to persuade undamaged parts of my brain to help out my dissapearing cerebellum. As wibbly wobbly says this is through specific exercise. I go to my local gym 3x a week and have things I do on the treadmill and strength machines while thinking about my brain. I have no idea or sense about which part will take over or join in. One of the things is to work on muscle memory. Outside the brain.

I have many devices to help me increase plasticity but not always the energy to use them!

Nigel

[nigelrheath in reply to nigelrheath]

That’s Norman Doidge

[EireAtaxic]

I read this a few years back. Very interesting.

From what I recall it was very much 'success' stories rather than advice. The one that stands out in my memory is the phantom limbs.

.