Brain Facts That You Need To Know

These brain facts may surprise you.

The human brain—a miracle of design by our Creator controls all body activities, ranging from heart rate and sexual function to emotion, learning, and memory.

It is a jelly like, three-pound mass of fatty tissue that is far more complex than a supercomputer. It contains a staggering one hundred billion nerve cells, which are called neurons.

This gets a little technical here but bear with me. You’ll see later how this all ties together to explain how your memory works and how you can blow away the change your brain to resist dementia and Prevent Alzheimers Symptoms.

Each neuron can make contact with thousands or even tens of thousands of others, via tiny structures called synapses. A synapse is junction between two nerve cells. The name is derived from the word from the Greek word "synaptein" meaning to fasten together.

The neuron releases a chemical transmitter (a neurotransmitter) that diffuses across a small gap and activates specific specialized sites called receptors situated on the target cell. Neurons can also communicate through direct electrical connections.

Our brains form a million new connections for every second of our lives. It is in these changing connections that memories are stored, habits learned and personalities shaped, by reinforcing certain patterns of brain activity, and losing others.

“The brain is not as rigid as we used to think,” says neuropsychologist Dr. Paul Nussbaum, adjunct associate professor in neurological surgery at he University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Until recently, the conventional wisdom was that our supply of brain cells died off as we aged and it was impossible to produce new ones during our lifetime.

Frederic Gage from the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, busted that myth wide open in 2000 when he discovered the following brain facts:

when he showed that even adults can grow new brain cells. He also found that exercise is one of the best ways to build brain reserv

* We know now that the brain constantly is reorganizing and making new connections, a concept known as “neuroplasticity” or brain plasticity.

* Equally exciting, scientists have shown the brain can generate new cells, a process known as “neurogenesis.” These cells are created in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that learns new information.

“The hippocampus gets damaged by Alzheimer’s disease early on,” Nussbaum says. “When people first hear of the potential for ‘strengthening’ their brains, they become excited, because they fear Alzheimer’s.”

Other previously unknown brain facts are described in his book The Brain That Changes Itself, Norman Doidge, M.D., describes the remarkable brain “rewiring” pioneered by Dr. Merzenich and other brain scientists.

Memories have been dramatically improved, aging brains have been rejuvenated and the functions of stroke victims have been restored years after the event.

Gene Millen, Brain Fitness professional. I'm Gene Millen. In 1990 a skilled heart surgeon sawed open my chest and stitched in bypasses to six of my favorite arteries.

That got my attention...and kindled a passion for helping others avoid the mistakes I had made. I've provided health and wellness programs for hundreds of people during the 11 years that my wife and I owned the Vital Life Center, an award winning health and wellness club for the over 50 crowd.

Currently, as Fitness/Wellness Director of a Residential Retirement Community in the San Joaquin Valley of California, my responsibility is to provide the brain facts, motivation and programming to keep our residents vital, active and mentally sharp.

The last thing you and I need in the prime of our lives is to have our memory go south on us...and the good news is that new brain studies conclusively show that we can restore and enhance our memory no matter what our age.

May your Brain be nimble brain be quick.

Quicker than lightning...never missing a trick!

Gene

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