Many parts of the brain are optional. (Sorry, the Substantia Nigra is not one of them.)

[lempa_nik]

If you have a weak stomach, you may want to skip reading the attached link. It illustrates in a very dramatic, albeit grotesque, way how very little we know about the brain's function:

realclearscience.com/blog/2...

[metacognito]

Further testament to 'the plasticity of the brain' (24 yr-old girl in China): iflscience.com/brain/24-yea...

[Hikoi in reply to metacognito]

Some comments on the report below.

The question I now wonder is how malleable the aged brain is compared to a newborn brain.

medicaldaily.com/woman-no-c...

medscape.com/viewarticle/72...

[lempa_nik in reply to Hikoi]

Good point, Hikoi. Thank you for adding that. Prodigies of brain plasticity are certainly closed off to us older specimens. Mother Nature is not going to be fooled just because some of us went back to wearing diapers

[metacognito in reply to Hikoi]

Judging from a recent book I'm soon to finish (The Neurogenesis Diet & Lifestyle), the rate of new neuron generation (or neuronal degeneration) appears to depend largely on the degree to which we follow a "neurohealthy" (or a "neurotoxic") diet and lifestyle regime. Citing the latest studies on the subject, the author states, "the quality of your life is directly proportional to your rate of neurogenesis".

Outlining in depth what latest studies deem an "enriched environment", he then proceeds quite convincingly to make the case that the inverse of the above statement is equally true i.e., your rate of neurogenesis is directly proportional to the quality of your life.

He describes how certain nutrients together with various factors in the realm of mind, body, and soul act to increase the number of new neurons, while some work to increase the survival rates of those new neurons, and still others appear to do both.

He states, "research shows that providing an enriched environment stimulates the brain in multiple ways with a synergistic effect. That is, separate kinds of neurogenic activity - such as exercise, diet, emotional, and cognitive stimulation - work together more powerfully than they do apart... for instance, running boosts neurogenesis but with running alone there is a 40-60% loss of these newly created brain cells.

"However, other parts of an enriched environment prevent neuronal cell loss but don't increase the number of new neurons formed. Put together there is a large boost in new brain cells as well as an almost 100% survival rate. But only a holistic multi-pronged approach produces the powerful boost in both neurons and survival rates that results in a major increase in neurogenesis."

And the best news for us, as pertains to an expiration date on that "enriched environment" and prospects for neurogenesis (finally addressing your question), he also cites studies indicating that, "when the enriched environment began in middle age, there was a five-fold increase in the rate of neurogenesis and when it began in old age there was a three- to five-fold increase."

So, with a little extra effort, we can do as well as the youngsters

Final note: Although research thus far has been largely conducted on animals, the Buck Institute for Research together with UCLA reported "the first known success for the reversal of Alzheimer's" on humans (October 2014) using a simplified version of this "enriched environment concept: newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/...

[Hikoi in reply to metacognito]

Well Metacognito I don't have quite your enthusiasm for this study on 10 people with Alzheimer's and How did he chose that complex treatment strategy?

The paper’s author, said the findings are “very encouraging,” but he added that the results are anecdotal, and a more extensive, controlled clinical trial is needed.

Like the anecdotal results for coconut oil and Alzheimer's I will wait and see what a controlled clinical trial shows.

[metacognito]

Yeah... I guess by skipping to the last sentence you missed the main point of my post. I was talking about a newly released book and the subject of 'neurogenesis' - the brain's ongoing ability to generate and sustain new neurons - not about one small study from the large collection of studies (plural) found in the book's appendix. Neurogenesis, long believed to cease in adulthood has in recent years (through new technologies to track and measure brain activity) proven to be an ongoing process - one we are able to influence though diet and lifestyle.

If, however, you (and apparently dumpelkin) are happy consumers of the erroneous notions of yesteryear, still believing brain health is out of your hands, still happily scarfing down your low-fat/high-carb diet, and still staying well away from the edges of a flat earth, I'm certainly not going to persuade you otherwise - cheers!

[Hikoi in reply to metacognito]

I did read your entire post though only commented on the research quoted. Apologies that this caused you such annoyance. No doubt the books author, a psychologist makes very valid and worthwhile comment about the benefit of an enriched environment, but I don't have any way of knowing about the claims he makes until I read it.

As to neurogenesis it's a fact to me. I was fortunate to recently attend a lecture by Prof Richard Faull whose ted talk I posted. In 2007, his research group provided the first evidence that the diseased human brain can repair itself by the generation of new brain cells, overturning the long-held view that the adult brain can only degenerate. He spoke about this work.

Thanks for the preview and book recommendation.