The brain can still develop even after adolescense. Adults need to enhance thier plasticity. Plasicity is when you are able to adapt to new experiences. Being able to adapt to a new and different environment is a social and survival skills that everyone has to have. Being a adult means that life is constantly changing, you have to adapt to having children being married and new jobs. New findings on the adult brain establish two principles. First, the adult brain continues to grow and develop throughout our entire life. Second, brain development in adulthood is shaped mostly by outside stimuli. This new thinking means that we can do healthy “workouts” for our brains, as well as our bodies!

There are games like soduko and lumosity for example. Having new expereincese is the best thing you can do for your brain. Everytime you learn something new your brain creates new pathways. The brain and body are connected and exercise is good for the both of them. The brain increases new cell growth and mental abilities  20-30% from the stimulation of exercise. Our brains can not function properly without sleep. We all need 8 hours of sleep a night so that our brains will function properly. A diet of fruits and vegetable along with plent of water will benefit the brain and body and help everyone function better.

Sources: J. Tortora, Gerald, and Bryan Derrickson. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 13th ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken NJ, USA  2012.

“The Adult Brain.” Brain Institute Oregan Health and Science University OHSU is an equal opportunity affirmative action institution 2001-2013.

Strokes are cerebrovascular accidents (cva) and are caused by lack of blood flow or blockage to the brain. People at risk of a stroke suffer from high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Recent research has shown that stem cells can be used as cellular building blocks and can be administered to stoke patients and result in better recovery of brain function.

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide through mitosis and can regenerate itself to make new cells. Stem cells are being used to cure diseases everyday. Patients receive stem cells intravenously or subcutaneously. The procedure seems to be very safe and promising, it only takes an hour, and has no known negative side effects. For safety precautions, the stem cells that are used go through extensive screening to check for imperfections. Fetal stem cells are used because the body does not reject them because they do not have a cellular fingerprint.

This unique treatment means that patients will not need more medications for their immune system. That helps their bodies be on less medication and save more money. There have been over 2000 men and women treated with these stem cells and the results of their treatments have been promising. There has been substantial improvements in all the patients. It takes patients 3 to 6 months to see any changes and improvements in their treatments.

Sources: J. Tortora, Gerald, and Bryan Derrickson. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 13th ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken NJ, USA  2012.

“Breakthrough Stroke Treatment”. www.stemcellofamerica.© 2011 Stem Cell Of America