NEWS: Learning 'protects the brain'

[janet paterson <janet313@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Learning 'protects the brain'

Friday, April 2, 1999 Published at 11:55 GMT 12:55 UK: A stimulating
environment that encourages learning could help children avoid developing
degenerative brain diseases in later life, scientists say.

Researchers believe they have compelling evidence that children who grow up
in such an environment are less likely to get diseases such as Parkinson's
and Alzheimer's.

Early exposure to learning may also increase the body's ability to repair
damaged brain cells, the study found.

Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and the
University of Auckland in New Zealand drew their conclusions from
experiments conducted on laboratory rats.

They found that the rats lost 45% fewer brain cells to ageing if they were
given rubber balls, running wheels and tunnels to play with and if they got
special treats such as corn chips.

Some of the active rats also received a brain stimulant called kainic acid.

They showed almost complete protection from brain cell loss.

Director of Jefferson Medical College's Central Nervous System Gene Therapy
Centre, Dr Matthew During, said: "We were hoping to get some scientific
underpinnings to the age-old maxim 'use it or lose it'."

"An enriched environment switched on genes in the brain, and we believe by
that mechanism the brain becomes super-resilient, resistant to ageing and
diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and traumatic brain injury."

He added: "There haven't been many careful studies done in the lab to show
if actively using your brain enhances your ability to stay healthy, and
what mechanisms might be involved in protecting the brain.

"We asked what that [stimulating environment] would do to cognitive
function, particularly in preventing brain cell death and symptoms of
Alzheimer's and other diseases resulting in brain degeneration."

However, publishing their findings in the journal Nature Medicine, the
authors said further research is necessary to determine exactly what about
the environment helped stimulate brain-protecting genes.

BBC News Online: Health

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janet paterson - 52 now /41 dx /37 onset - almonte/ontario/canada
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janet313@xxxxxxxxxxx