Using an innovative visualization technique, a team of neuroscientists from the University of California at Irvine (USA), led by Lulu Chen and Christine Gall, has proven that everyday learning keeps our brain healthy and slows the negative effects of aging on neurons.
The key, according to the researchers, lies in the production of a molecule called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that encourages the growth of the connections (synapses) that allow communication between neurons, and is also key to memory. This process is linked to the so-called theta rhythms , which mediate communication between the hippocampus and other brain regions, and involve the activation of numerous neurons in a synchronized manner at a frequency between 3 and 8 times per second.
Theta rhythms allow synapses to be stronger in memory- related areas of the brain. And furthermore, according to Gall, there is "evidence that these rhythms decline as we age, which can explain many memory problems." Staying mentally active as "eternal learners" can keep BDNF signals at a constant rate, keeping neurons working optimally. And in advanced ages this permanent activity "would prevent intellectual decline," according to Gall in the latest issue of PNAS magazine.
