New Neuron Generation(Neurogenesis) in Adults

New Neuron Generation(Neurogenesis) in Adults

What is adult Neurogenesis?

"Adult neurogenesis" refers to the ability of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to generate new neurons in adulthood called adult generated neurons. This is as differentiated from "neurogenesis" typically used to describe the processes of neuronal generation that occur during the prenatal (embryonic and fetal) period extending in to the early years of postnatal life.

Back in the 1800s and the first half of the 20th century, scientists and scholars believed that development of new neurons only occurred early in life and would cease at some point during development, so that no new neurons could be formed in the brain or spinal cord after this 'critical age'.  Some scientists back then disputed this as fact but had no means of disproving the widely accepted notion, the non-availability of advanced equipment back then and less advanced scientific investigation and laboratory techniques meant this notion would go unchallenged for a very long time.

Definition:

Adult neurogenesis is the process of generating new neurons which integrate into existing circuits after fetal and early postnatal development has ceased. In most mammalian species, adult neurogenesis only appears to occur in the olfactory bulb and the hippocampus

What happen in neurological diseases?

Immense interest has been generated around this area, now that adult neurogenesis is known to be a fact, focus has shifted towards determining the factors that affect adult neurogenesis (increase or decrease it rate of occurrence) and the functions of these adult generated neurons. Interestingly it has been shown that such factors as physical exercise, living in an environmentally enriched area and mentally challenging tasks among other things improve the rate of production of new neurons in the adult hippocampus as well as increase the longevity of these newly generated neurons. In the same vein, scientists have managed to demonstrate that laboratory animals in which the rates of neurogenesis had been increased by such means as physical exercise performed better at tasks such as learning a new skill or spatial navigation in a novel (new) environment. Incidentally, elevated levels of adult hippocampal neurogenesis have been observed in adults with neurological insults and diseases such as stroke (CVA), Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and dementia among others. These diseases are characterized by death and destruction of neurons and the elevated levels of neurogenesis are hypothesized to be the body's own way of trying to replace the neurons that would have been lost.

Physiotherapist role in Adult neurogenesis:

Considering that physical exercise and environmental enrichment will improve the levels of adult neurogenesis, physiotherapists can augment the body's own regenerative capacities by working with patients with neurological diseases to promote activities that enhance hippocampal neurogenesis.

1. Promote a healthy lifestyle - eat healthy, avoid the use of drugs. The use of drugs such as methamphetamine(reduces the rate of neurogenesis) and decreases cognitive functions

2. Develop an exercise regime as part of the treatment program for neuro patients.

So , physiotherapy helps us  in a lot of ways to rehabilitate neurological patients in all ways( also in neurogenesis). Thank you