|
|
 |
|
|
An explanation for why the brain may become more reluctant tofunction as we grow older by 123wert sdfsf
|
|
|
An explanation for why the brain may become more reluctant tofunction as we grow older by 123WERT SDFSF
|
|
| Article Posted: 08/20/2013 |
| Article Views: 59 |
| Articles Written: 2217 - MORE ARTICLES FROM THIS AUTHOR |
| Word Count: 455 |
| Article Votes: 0 |
|
An explanation for why the brain may become more reluctant tofunction as we grow older |
|
|
|
|
|
Business,Business News,Business Opportunities
|
|
New findings, led by neuroscientists at the University of Bristoland published this week in the journal Neurobiology of Aging , reveal a novel mechanism through which the brain may become morereluctant to function as we grow older. It is not fully understood why the brain's cognitive functions suchas memory and speech decline as we age. Although work publishedthis year suggests cognitive decline can be detectable before 50years of age. The research, led by Professor Andy Randall and DrJon Brown from the University's School of Physiology andPharmacology, identified a novel cellular mechanism underpinningchanges to the activity of neurones which may underlie cognitivedecline during normal healthy aging. The brain largely uses electrical signals to encode and conveyinformation.
Modifications to this electrical activity are likelyto underpin age-dependent changes to cognitive abilities. The researchers examined the brain's electrical activity by makingrecordings of electrical signals in single cells of thehippocampus, a structure with a crucial role in cognitive function.In this way they characterised what is known as "neuronalexcitability" - this is a descriptor of how easy it is to producebrief, but very large, electrical signals called action potentials;these occur in practically all nerve cells and are absolutelyessential for communication within all the circuits of the nervoussystem. Action potentials are triggered near the neurone's cell body andonce produced travel rapidly through the massively branchingstructure of the nerve cell, along the way activating the synapsesthe nerve cell makes with the numerous other nerve cells to whichit is connected. The Bristol group identified that in the aged brain it is moredifficult to make hippocampal neurones generate action potentials.Furthermore they demonstrated that this relative reluctance toproduce action potential arises from changes to the activationproperties of membrane proteins called sodium channels, whichmediate the rapid upstroke of the action potential by allowing aflow of sodium ions into neurones.
Professor Randall, Professor in Applied Neurophysiology said: "Muchof our work is about understanding dysfunctional electricalsignalling in the diseased brain, in particular Alzheimer's disease . We began to question, however, why even the healthy brain canslow down once you reach my age. Previous investigations elsewherehave described age-related changes in processes that are triggeredby action potentials, but our findings are significant because theyshow that generating the action potential in the first place isharder work in aged brain cells. "Also by identifying sodium channels as the likely culprit for thisreluctance to produce action potentials, our work even points toways in which we might be able modify age-related changes toneuronal excitability, and by inference cognitive ability." Additional References Citations. I am a professional writer from Home & Garden, which contains a great deal of information about pink green comforter , antique oil lantern, welcome to visit!
Related Articles -
pink green comforter, antique oil lantern,
|
Rate This Article  |
|
|
|
|
|
Do you Agree or Disagree? Have a Comment? POST IT!
| Reader Opinions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Author Login |
|
|
 |
Advertiser Login
ADVERTISE HERE NOW!
Limited Time $60 Offer!
90 Days-1.5 Million Views
|
|
ALEX BELSEY
I am the editor of QUAY Magazine, a B2B publication based in the South West of the UK. I am also the...more
|
|
|
|
|
STEPHEN BYE
Stephen Bye is a fiction writer. His most recent novels are a 5-book “The Developer” series which be...more
|
|
|
|
|
PAUL PHILIPS
For more articles, blog messages & videos and a free e-book download go to www.NewParadigm.ws your p...more
|
|
|
|
|
TIM FAY
After 60-plus years of living, I am just trying to pass down some of the information that I have lea...more
|
|
|
|
|
LAURA JEEVES
At LeadGenerators, we specialise in content-led Online Marketing Strategies for our clients in the t...more
|
|
|
|
|
LEVAL AINAH
I am an internet marketer and also an educator. My goal is to help others who are looking to improve...more
|
|
|
|
|
GENE MYERS
Author of four books and two screenplays; frequent magazine contributor. I have four other books "in...more
|
|
|
|
|
ADRIAN JOELE
I have been involved in nutrition and weight management for over 12 years and I like to share my kn...more
|
|
|
|
|
MICHAEL BRESCIANI
Rev Bresciani is the author of two Christian books. One book is an important and concisely written b...more
|
|
|
|
