86Thousand400: Neurotrophic Factors and the ‘Beyond our control’

As fundamental as neurotransmitters are, there's another class of master molecules that has dramatically changed our understanding of connections in the brain, specifically how they develop and grow.

A family of loosely termed factors, the most prominent of which is Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)

Whereas neurotransmitters carry out signalling, neurotrophins such as BDNF build and maintain cell circuitry - the infrastructure itself.

When the brain is called on to take in information, the demand naturally causes activity between neurons. The more activity the stronger the attraction becomes, and the easier it is for the signal to fire and make the connection.

If the firing continues, genes inside the neuron's cell are turned on to produce more building material for the synapses, and it is the bolstering of the infrastructure that allows the new information to stick as memory.

A neuron is like a tree but instead of leaves has synapses along its dendritic branches, eventually new branches sprout, providing more synapses to further synaptic plasticity, which is where BDNF takes centre stage.

BDNF can be likened to miracle gro for the brain.

BDNF improves the function of neurons, encourages their growth, and strengthens and protects them against the natural process of cell death. (Anti-aging)

When we exercise, particularly if the exercise requires complex motor movement, we're also exercising the areas of the brain involved in the full suite of cognitive functions. We're causing the brain to fire signals along the same network of cells which solidifies their connections and helps fend off diseases such as Alzheimers, Dementia and Parkinson’s.

Moving forward, when we learn something new, a wide array of connected brain areas are called into action. Brain scans show that when we learn a new word, the prefrontal cortex lights up with activity (as does the hippocampus and other pertinent areas). As a result this a great reason why reading or attempting to learn something – especially for children – is best after exercise when all areas of the brain are firing due to higher levels of neurotransmitter and neurotrophic factor activity.

By showing that exercise sparks the master molecule of the learning process, Sparks author, Cotman nailed down a direct biological connection between movement and cognitive function, which is why a morning run is so important!

When thinking a little more about neurotransmitters, neurotrophic factors and the nervous system as a whole, a lot of it may seem as if it is ‘beyond our control’ as it all occurs within the body without conscious thought, however it would appear that through exercise and pushing the body/mind at certain times we have more control over our body and our overall health than we first thought!