Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of the brain to be flexible, or “plastic” due neurons being able to make new connections with each other. The brain has on average 86 billion neurons that have the potential to connect, or synapse.
A recent study conducted at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT, in mice, identified that when one synapse strengthens the ones around it weaken which demonstrate how synapses occur. This information is important because it shows how the brain remodels itself. This is good news, particularly for aging populations with Alzheimer's or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
The brain becomes less plastic as you age. However, there are steps that everyone can take to restore lost connections and activate underused parts of the brain. Cognitive rehabilitation and cognitive training are therapies designed to reactivate parts of the brain that are implicated in cognitive conditions like Alzheimers and Dementia. These types of treatments are particularly useful in enhancing cognitive functions such as attention and memory. Physical exercise has also been shown to increase cognitive functioning and neuroplasticity.
Cognitive Training
Cognitive training (CT) is the term used to describe treatment for healthy people and patients with cognitive deficits. Interventions include procedures to improve cognitive function and social skills. Testing is done to determine the base level of functioning and a treatment plan to meet each person’s needs. Treatment focuses on improving memory, executive functioning, learning, and attention. For example for memory a patient may look at a word and think of what the word looks like to develop imagery to help learn the word, count from 20 to 1, and be asked to recall the word later.
In executive functioning treatment, a patient may be given a problem of multiplying the number of legs in a spider by the number of legs in a chair by the number of ears on a dog; for attention, a patient may need to look at two similar pictures and be tasked with spotting the difference; for learning, a patient may learn how to identify the main idea of information read or heard. Task difficulty increases gradually as the patient become more adept.
Cognitive Rehabilitation
Cognitive Rehabilitation is therapy that improves specific cognitive functions with the goal of improving a person’s quality of life. For example patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) typically experience a decline in working memory. Research has shown those with working memory deficits and MCI benefit by recalling images seen previously. This is tested using a technique called "n-Back memory tasks." More research is needed to shown the ability of the trained skills to apply to real life situations, but the results so far are promising.
Physical Exercise
Research shows benefits to neural connectivity after interventions in cognition during healthy and aging executive functioning (planning and decision making) derived from physical exercise. Physical exercise consists of three categories: aerobic exercise (such as walking, running, or cycling); resistance training (such as weight lifting); and stretching (such as yoga and Pilates).
Take Away
Overall, cognitive interventions and physical fitness interventions have been found to facilitate improvements in cognitive performance. These improvements are immediately evident, but also have positive long-term consequences.
Even if you are not in therapy, there are programs such as Brain HQ and Constant Therapy that provide exercises to improve cognitive functioning. Once you've obtained clearance from your doctor, you can create an exercise regimen that works with your schedule. There are an endless amount of templates online for exercise routines at every level, and many community centers offer free or discounted fitness classes. Is an hour or two out of your week really that much time of an investment when you're we're talking about the long-term health of your brain?