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What is white matter in the brain
What is white matter in the brain







People who eat lots of fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil have less cognitive decline and dementia. Examples include doing mental gymnastics like puzzles or learning something new through reading or taking a class. Although stimulation may not grow new neurons it can grow new connections between neurons, called brain plasticity. This will keep your neurons supplies with blood and oxygen and reduce cognitive decline. Brain MaintenanceĪccording to Harvard University’s Harvard Health and the Alzheimer’s Association, the best way to maintain the health of your grey matter is with a healthy lifestyle. NCCIH says that other supplements including vitamin B, vitamin D, multivitamins, coconut oil, and melatonin do not have enough research to support their use for brain health. In laboratory and animal studies, this supplement shows promise for decreasing the plaques and tangles that occur in aging and Alzheimer’s disease, however, human studies have been few and inconsistent.However, most studies do not find any benefit. There is some evidence that this vitamin may slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. There has been research supporting the use of this supplement for reducing cognitive decline, but most studies have found it has no effect on cognition in older people. A review of studies on Gingko biloba for brain health that included over 2,500 people found that it may slow down cognitive decline, especially in people who already have some cognitive impairment. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), this is what the science says about supplements and their effect on brain matter: You have probably seen adds for brain supplements that can increase cognitive function, reduce your risk of dementia, or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. You probably can’t prevent loss of grey matter that comes with age, but you may be able to slow it down. Tips for Brain Health Grey Matter Supplements These changes do not usually cause severe memory loss or dementia unless you have a disease like Alzheimer’s. That is why some gradual slowing of thought, memory, and thinking – cognitive decline – is a normal part of aging. Waste products and other chemicals also begin to build up in the aging brain causing plaques and tangles to form, which can break down neurons. Part of aging is also a decreased blood supply to your neurons, caused by aging of your heart and blood vessels. Messages passing through white matter begin to slow down. What Happens to Grey Matter as You Age?Īs you age, and you naturally lose neurons. For now, there is no known way for you to replace lost grey matter. Some newer research suggests that some areas of the brain can make new neurons, called neurogenesis, but this is still an unproven theory. Until recently, brain researchers believed you are born with all the neurons you will ever have. Unnatural causes of neuronal death include Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. Neurons also die naturally with age, although they are the longest living cells in the body. A common cause is a stroke or brain hemorrhage.

What is white matter in the brain skin#

Unlike skin cells or bone cells, once neurons are lost, they are usually gone forever. If white matter is lost, it may regrow as long as axons are connected to healthy neurons. White matter is found in the inner areas of the brain and the outside of the spinal cord. Because myelin is white, areas thick with axons bundles are called white matter. Like the cable coming off a computer, axons need to be wrapped with a protective coating to effectively carry nerve signals. It makes up over 80 percent of the brain mass and contains about 100 billion neurons.Įach neuron communicates with other neurons through nerve fiber extensions, called axons. The outside of the huma brain, called the cerebral cortex, is overdeveloped in humans compared to other animals. The human brain has better cognition than any other animal brain. Loss of cognition – cognitive decline – is what happens when you start losing neurons and grey matter. All these functions working together are called “cognition”. Neurons are the key players in brain activities like thinking, remembering, feeling, and doing. Grey matter is found in the outer areas of your brain. Grey matter is where your brain neurons are located.







What is white matter in the brain