Studying

I read all these things about exercise releasing BDNF which start neurogenesis and therefore regenerates dying neurons. This is supposedly to slow down PD. Anyway, I studied a lot during my life. What I remembered was that when the academic year started I was a bit stupid. Stupid in the sense that it took me time to understand things. But after some weeks of studying my brain suddenly improved and I understood things very fast. This effect was really spectacular during exams. I could learn like if I was a computer. So I was thinking ... something in my brain must have changed because of continuosly studying. Neurogenesis must have occured. So I was thinking whether studying would be beneficial for PD patients, especially if combined with exercise. Anyone has ever read anything about studying and it's effect on PD ?

[lurkingforacure]

Originally Posted by Diego24

I read all these things about exercise releasing BDNF which start neurogenesis and therefore regenerates dying neurons. This is supposedly to slow down PD. Anyway, I studied a lot during my life. What I remembered was that when the academic year started I was a bit stupid. Stupid in the sense that it took me time to understand things. But after some weeks of studying my brain suddenly improved and I understood things very fast. This effect was really spectacular during exams. I could learn like if I was a computer. So I was thinking ... something in my brain must have changed because of continuosly studying. Neurogenesis must have occured. So I was thinking whether studying would be beneficial for PD patients, especially if combined with exercise. Anyone has ever read anything about studying and it's effect on PD ?

Use it or lose it, as they say. Sudoku, learning a new language especially for some reason, playing an instrument, brain games on the computer (we bought a year's script to lumosity.com, I think it is called but be careful, those brain games are addictive if you are competitive with yourself and want to try to better your score!)

This was for Alz, however, but since you can see dementia in some PDers, it's probably good for that too. Heck, it's good for everyone, to keep that brain busy. As a counselor once told me "the brain hates to be bored". She was talking about little kids actually, but I would think this applies to us all.

The main thing is to find things your dad is interested in, and go with those. If the brain activity can include physical activity as well, even if it's just playing the piano or a guitar, gardening like Ron does, so much the better. Just remember a compromised system might make 2 ATP molecules whereas a healthy one makes close to 38, so you see where the lack of energy comes into play in a huge way. I got this from Dr. Wahl's book "Minding My Mitochondria"-she suffered from MS (a brain doctor herself, no less). We've talked about her recovery here on the forum, search and you can read more about her and her book.

[lindylanka]

I think what you are describing is not just neurogenesis. The brain by definition exists through the way connections are made, and the processes of learning and doing enable this. So the flexibility of the brain, or neuroplasticity, that is brought about by using it, as you did with learning, could lead to neurogenesis.

Learning anything complex benefits the ability to learn in general. It is not a cure when people learn to exercise, dance, write, sing, cycle, train etc., but creates new neural pathways that can help limit the damage, and turn back the clock a little.

If we keep on doing this we can subvert PD for a while. A cure is still needed. But drugs may not be the only way. It may well need a multi-layered approach to cure, because if something stops the damage to brain chemistry we may still have to maintain ourselves to prevent it happening again.

Originally Posted by lurkingforacure

This was for Alz, however, but since you can see dementia in some PDers, it's probably good for that too. Heck, it's good for everyone, to keep that brain busy. As a counselor once told me "the brain hates to be bored". She was talking about little kids actually, but I would think this applies to us all.

I know studying is good for dementia because I read that people that studied a lot have less risk of getting dementia. The reason I think studying could also be beneficial for the motor part of PD is the following. I read about studies that showed people performed better in learning tasks after physical exercise. This has to do with BDNF release due to physical exercise. If you perform learning tasks, it is obvious you get better in learning also. This must be through the same mechanism of BDNF release. So learning must promote BDNF release. And this could also be beneficial for regeneration of the dopamine neurons. So I was thinking that combining exercise with learning would release more BDNF than exercise alone, and therefore studying could be beneficial for PD.

Another idea I have, which is really crazy, is that I read people that live conservative have bigger odds of getting PD. My father is really a non-risk aker by nature. Anyway, I was thinking that mayeb I need to make him gamble and make hm experience the thrill of it. I don't want to make him a gamble addict, though. I was thinking of giving him 1000 euro and let him play on the stock market with it. I want to set him the goal of trippling my money so he has to take some investment risk. Gambling and dopamine are related so it could boost/protect the dopamine neurons. Of course, I am totally not sure about this idea. There is nothing that I can find in science to backup this would be beneficial for PD. But anway, it should be fun. Now I just have to convince him to this. It will be difficult because I will make him play with my money and he doesn't like it.

Originally Posted by lurkingforacure

The main thing is to find things your dad is interested in, and go with those. If the brain activity can include physical activity as well, even if it's just playing the piano or a guitar, gardening like Ron does, so much the better.

Well, I just motivated him to learn algebra. And he started it . And believe it or not, he likes to do it, haha.

Originally Posted by lurkingforacure

I got this from Dr. Wahl's book "Minding My Mitochondria"-she suffered from MS (a brain doctor herself, no less). We've talked about her recovery here on the forum, search and you can read more about her and her book.

Thanks for the info !!!

[Conductor71]

Diego,

I think that studying is good for the mind because you are concentrated and focused for set periods of time- very much like in mediation which is probably just as important as exercisel There is a great over view on the Huff Post at:

Mindfulness Meditation Linked With Positive Brain Changes, Study Suggests

Laura