The Aging Brain
By Amanda Brown
ECE275* The brain shrinks with age by about 5-10% of its weight.
* Neurons die through aging or illness.
* Acetycholine-producing nucleus loses ¥2 of its neurons
» This causes a slower reaction in the aging brain
= Dopamine-producing substantia nigra loses 35-40% of its
neurons
* The raph nucleus loses 35-40% of its neurons
» The raph nucleus produces serotonin which is important for
mood and appetite
* The hippocampus loses about 5% of its neurons through again
* The aging brain experiences a great loss in neurons that are
vital for proper functioning
* “Decrease in cognitive ability starts at age 40 and continues at
least until age 80.” (Moffett 2006)
Brain Loss* The brain and spine lose nerve cells
* This effects:
» The transfer of sensations
» Voluntary muscle commands
» Muscle coordination
» Equilibrium
* This can cause jerky, uncontrolled
movement and can result in loss of
coordination and falls.
Cantral Nervous System Changes* Through the many changes occurring in
the brain and in the sensory organs,
senses are less accurate with age.
* Age requires a greater stimulation for the
senses to be activated.
* The eyes and ears are the most effected
which makes it harder for elders to gather
information about their surrounding
environments. Such as where they are
and who is around them.
Changes in the Senses* Joints and Muscles become weaker
because the brains management of body
movement declines.
* The loss of tendons and muscles slow
reflexes and due to brittle joints, pain
occurs and causes a decrease in energy.
Bones and Muscles* Biochemical imbalances in the brain cause
depression and anxiety among the elderly
* 15-25% of elderly people (65+)
experience a high level of depression
* 1/5 of suicides are from people 65 and
older
* Studies show that if older people socialize
with friends their morale is boosted.
Ernotions* The elderly tend to process information
more slowly and have a harder time
recalling specific information but the aging
brain is still capable of processing
information. 8s
They may
be older,
but they
can still
learn to
play
Nintendo
Wii!
Laarning* Reduces the number of brain cells
* Reduces the number of connections between brain
cells- occurs when there is a lack of physical or
mental activities, or depression.
* Impairs the generation of electrical activity- can occur
if alcohol intoxication happens
* Disrupts the production of energy- occurs in
Parkinsons disease, diabetes and cancer treatments.
* Damages axons which slow reactions within the brain-
occurs when there is hypertension, heart disease or a
stroke.
* (Amen, 2005)
Diseases of Aging Can Cause These Problems* Memory is affected by age, and it may be
hard for elders to remember facts or
events.
* It may also be difficult for them to keep
information for a few seconds.
* PET scans show that the aging brain has
trouble encoding memories more than a
younger brain does.
Memory Loss* “True dementia may only exist in only about 5%
of the population over age 65.” (Sweeny 2009)
* Dementia is NOT a normal part of aging
* If 2 or more brain functions involving memory
and language skills are problematic, dementia
can be diagnosed.
* Some signs of dementia include memory loss,
disorientation, confusion and misplacement of
items.
* Medication cannot cure dementia but can help
with symptoms or can sometimes slow the
deterioration process.
* Genetic factors can play a role.
Damentia* Alzheimer's is the most common form of
dementia.
» It deteriorates the parts of the brain that is vital
for thinking, memory and reasoning.
= It can cause one to become fully dependent on
another for survival because the person loses all
necessary skills to live.
« At the final stage of the disease, the person may
be completely fost and will eventually die.
. ou gu eA cs, drugs may help reduce the
ris
* Studies are being conducted to see if an fMRI
could be used to early detect this disease
Alzheimer’s* High blood pressure (which is common in
older people) accounts for 70% of strokes.
* A stroke occurs in a quick moment. A stroke
is when blood flow to the brain is cut off.
* The brain needs oxygen brought from the
blood in order for brain cells to live. When
brain cells die because of a stroke, so do
cognitive and motor functions that are made
possible because of these cells.
* It often takes time for a person to heal
properly from the survival of a stroke and
they must be properly rehabilitated.
Strokes» New research shows that the aging brain can perform
neurogenesis. But however, the process of neurogenisis
greatly decreases with age.
* This gives new optimism that stem cells could possibly be
used to support and aid the brain in neuronal loss.
* “The aging brain is vulnerable to mild cognitive impairment,
increasing incidence of stroke, and a variety of
neurodegenerative diseases.” (Bernal 2004)
* Most studies however have been conducted on younger adults
rather than the elderly which provides wrong information.
* This review focuses on previous studies done on younger
adults and recognizes the changes that occur at a later age as
well as information available pertaining to neurogenisis at a
later age.
Neural stern cells as therapeutic agents for
age-related brain repair
By- Giovanna WM. Bernal and Daniel A.
Peterson** Background
» Researchers wanted to further study brain aging on elderly adults. Over
a period of 6 years 145 individuals brains and daily lives were
examined.
= Methods
» 145 elderly people who were considered to be healthy were divided
into groups depending on their age.
Group A 69 years or younger and Group B 70 years or older
Each year they were given 3 tests to determine their brain status and
see if there has been any decrease in cognition.
The Benton Visual retention test (BVRT) is an established visual test in
Japan and examines mistakes such as distortion, rotation,
misplacement and mistakes in size.
Enhanced cue recall is a test in which a person must recall certain
objects in a drawing after performing an unrelated task. This test is
scored upon items recalled and items that couldn't be recalled.
» A symbol test is another visual test in which numbers replace symbols.
Recent Studies-Research on aging using brain imaging
and cognitive tests over 6 years in 145 healthy elderly
subjects. By Hirohide Kada1._(3.5) One family member with Alzheimer’s disease or other cause of dementia
2._{7.5) More than one family member with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia.
3,__(2.0) A single head injury with the loss of consciousness for more than a few minutes,
4._(2.0) Several head injuries without loss of consciousness.
5\_(4.4) Alcohol dependence or drug dependence is past or present.
6._{2.0) Major depression diagnosed by a physician in past or present.
7._(10) Stroke
8,_(2.5) Heart (coronary artery) disease or heart attack (myocardial infarction or MI)
9,_(2.1) High cholesterol
10.__ (2.3) High blood pressure
_(3.4) Diabetes
12._(3.0) History of cancer or cancer treatment.
13._(4.5) Seizures in past or present.
14._(2.0) Limited exercise (less than 2x per week or less than. 30 minutes per session)
15.__ (2.0) Less than a high school education.
16.__ (2.0) Jobs that do not require periodically learning new information.
17._(2.3) Smoking cigarettes for 10 years or longer
18.__(2.5) One apolipoprotein E4 (iF known)
49. (5.0) Two apolipoprotein E4 genes (if known)
TOTAL UP YOUR SCORE BY ADDING ALL CHECKED SCORES
Know Your Own Risk Against
Aging Brain Diseases* If you scored a 0,1, or 2, then you have a
low risk factor for developing the brain
diseases of aging.
° If you scored a 3,4,5, or 6, then you have
a moderate risk and should take
prevention seriously.
* If you scored higher than a 6, you have a
higher risk and should make prevention
tasks a part of your life.
This test is from Making a Good Brain
Great by Daniel G. Amen
What Does Your Score Mean?» Find a way to keep stress under control through sleep,
exercise, laughter and meditation/prayer.
* Stay away from drugs and alcohol, which can effect brain
functions.
* Exercise and make your every day diet healthy with foods
that help your body, such as iveberres that are high in
antioxidants.
* Keep your blood pressure under control and properly
monitor diabetes.
* Do not smoke, it increases your risk of stroke and heart
disease which effect your brain.
* Receive treatment for depression and/or anxiety.
* Seek treatment for sleep apnea.
* Take supplements if your diet is lacking certain vitamins.
Tips on row to Keep a
Healthy Srain and decrease
your risk of brain aging
diseasesThe End
Annotated bibliography follows...‘Amen, Daniel. (2005). Making a good brain great. New York: Harmony Books.
This source was informative in that it provided an entire chapter on the aging brain. It gave me
in depth facts about my research topic and gave readers ideas on how to sustain optimal brain
performance and prevent brain diseases caused by age: The author is credible because he is an
D. with many years of experience. He presents useful and objective information
Bernal, G. (2004). neural stem cells as therapeutic agents for age-related brain repair.
Aging Cell, 3(6), Retrieved from
hitp:/ /web.ebscohost.com//ehost /pdtviewer /pdfviewer?sid=4659d954-4674-4e98-
b363-d178c8cc78dc%40sessionmgri 15&vid= 15&hid=8 doi:
10.1111/5.1474-9728.2004.00132.x
This article was very technical and sometimes hard to follow because I didn't understand the
terminology. However, it was useful to my project because it examined neurogenesis and the
issue of whether the brain can repair itself. It also brings up the issue of what can be done to
help the brain repair itself.
Kada, Hirohide, (2008). Research on aging using brain imaging and cognitive tests over
6 years in 145 healthy elderly subjects. PSYCHOGERIATRICS, 8. Retrieved from
http:/ / web ebscohost.com/ehost/pdtviewer /pdfviewer?sid=46594954-4674-4e98-
b363-d178c8cc78dc%40sessionmgr] 15&vid=5&hid=113 doi:
10.1111/}.1479-8301.2008.00238.x
This source is peer reviewed and was very interesting and gave further insight into brain
studies and conclusions. It examined a brain study conducted on elderly that evaluated
cognitivity with age. This was helpful to my project because it pertained to cognitive deciine
from aging.
Moffett, S: (2006). The three-pound enigma. New York, New York: Algonquin Books of
ape!
This source was helpful because it examined the brain throughout life, and specifically had a
chapter for old age. The author, who was a current medical student at the time she wrote this
book gave further insight to topics such as brain functions, brain connections and Alzheimer’s
disease which were vital issues for my project.
Sweeney, M. (2009). Brain the complete mind. Washington D.C.: National Geographic
ciety.
T used our textbook as a source because it had very useful information pertaining to my topic.
Not only did it give me vital information, it gave me several topics to focus on
Annotated
bibliography