Brain cell degeneration

The human brain is a complex organ; there are many types of brain cells responsible for different tasks. It was long-held belief that human brain cell function deteriorates, inevitable some of the brain cells dies off as we age and that there is no way for the adult human to by themselves regenerate and replace this brain cells naturally.

The general agreed upon and widely accepted belief was that the marvelous human brain rewires existing old brain cells rather than through the generation of new brain cells to record new data or record new memory so to speak.

Doctors and medical researches do not rule out the possibility that common diseases plaguing elderly such as dementia disease might be attributed due to brain cognitive and control functions impairment caused by the natural attrition of brain cells and perhaps other contributing factors that might accelerate the declining rate of the human brain cells, term the neurons.

Of recent, scientific breakthrough in the field of human brain cells research indicates that the neurons can be regenerated naturally and that the brain is constantly generating new neurons for maintaining or replacing those that are loss due to natural attrition. The neurons are constantly regenerated, the growth rate is at its peak when we reach about 3 years old and then it starts to decline. As we grow older, the grow rate of new neurons slows down and lacks behind those neurons that dies.
It is noted that different types of neurons regenerate in varying capacities.

Furthermore, neuron science experts discovered to their surprised the human brain cells could be regenerated, a term called ‘neuro-regenesis’ through human action itself such as constant exercising of the brain so as involving thinking and logic decision making. Thus with the understanding that that exercising of the brain such as thinking can indeed cause the generation of new neuron cells responsible for thinking and consciousness, it is important to adjust our life style, in particular as we grew older.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that elderly people who are more active in life and frequently engaging in thinking tends to lead a more healthier life and do not suffer higher rate of dementia compare to retirees who lead a mundane life style of just passing time day in day out aimlessly. Aside from the sheer enjoyment of tackling more challenging pastimes, studies show that exercising your mental faculties helps prevent the onset of mild depression, dementia and other mental
disabilities.


The British Medical Journal in one of its article published in 2005 indicates that early retirement may translate into early mortality; at least for those 60 or younger. Similar studies in other countries likewise indicates similar trend. The cause of these mortalities is not known and medical researches and scientists are split in their findings and postulation with regards to such symptoms and trends. Could it be due to the fact that early retirement results in less stress and thus less exercising of the brain thoughts and thinking leading to brain degeneration thus early mortality?