HEALTHY LIVING Secrets of Neuroplasticity
Rewire your brain at any age. :: BY LYNN ALLISON
W
e used to think that we lose the ability to boost brain power as we age. However, new research says otherwise. A process called neuroplasticity is the brain’s
ability to change, develop, and adapt throughout life. In short, neuroplasticity tells us to “use it or lose it”
when it comes to the adaptive power of the brain. “Neuroplasticity is defined as the ability of neurons
and neural networks to alter their structure and behavior in response to novel stimuli or pressures,” explains James Greenblatt, M.D., an integrative physician and founder of Psychiatry Redefined. Neuroplasticity refers to a wide variety of genetic,
biochemical, or physical adaptations that enhance the functional efficiency of the brain and the nervous system. Greenblatt says that a good example is learning how to
play the piano. “When someone begins to take piano lessons, it’s often
the case that their fingers are slow to ‘match’ the brain or vice versa,” he tells Newsmax. “The brain’s processing of the information on sheet
music and the linking of that information to specific physical movements, such as putting fingers on the correct keys, is often slow, arduous, and clumsy.” With practice, however, things get much better. The music
begins to flow, and there is less time spent looking down at the hands and more time focusing on the sheet music. Hand movements become quicker, faster, and more
confident. With increasing frequency, the fingers find their way to the correct keys without a great deal of conscious effort. “Eventually, the link between reading the music and
the physical act of playing the piece becomes solidified, almost automatic.” Greenblatt explains that scientists are now
researching neuroplasticity as a key therapeutic target for a number of neuropsychiatric conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and traumatic brain disorder. It’s also an excellent intervention for aging. “Neurological aging is generally associated with a
progressive loss of neuroplasticity, which is why so many scientists, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies are investing a great deal of time, people-power, and money into the discovery of neuroplasticity-enhancing therapeutics,” says Greenblatt. But he says that you don’t have to wait for new
devices or therapies to be developed to boost your brain’s neuroplasticity. “One of the best ways to preserve neuroplasticity is
also the simplest: Keep learning!” Greenblatt says. “Strive continuously to engage in new activities, skills,
or hobbies. Every time we expose our brains to a new pressure, we trigger those adaptive biological responses that facilitate learning. We trigger our nervous systems to turn neuroplasticity circuits on.” Some examples of adaptive pressures include:
80 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | MARCH 2024
AJP/SHUTTERSTOCK
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