NeuroHealth Services Indianapolis
  • Conditions We See
    • Concussion and Post-Concussion Syndrome
    • Vestibular Dysfunction
    • Neurobehavioral Disorders
    • Migraines
    • Dystonia
    • Long Haul COVID
    • Dysautonomia
    • Other Conditions
  • Our Approach
    • Free Consultation
    • Discovery Day
    • NeuroReset Program
    • Services
    • Diagnostics
    • Treatment Tools
    • Our Doctors
    • NeuroHealth FAQs
    • Become A Patient
    • Referring Providers
  • Client Speak
  • Resources
    • About Us
    • NeuroHealth Blog
    • New Patient Paperwork
  • Schedule an Appointment

Your brain can change thanks to neuroplasticity

12/28/2020

 
Picture
​
Although we start life with roughly 100 billion neurons, we start to lose neurons the moment we are born due to the effects of stress, toxins, inflammation, aging, trauma, disease, and other factors.

So why can some people’s brains stay sharp and vital into old age?

The answer is not in the number of neurons, but in neuroplasticity, the ability of your brain to learn and adapt to change by creating additional links to neighboring neurons.

While strength in numbers is good, strength in connectivity is better when it comes to the brain.

Each neuron can send out thousands of connections to other neurons. As we age, even though we lose many neurons and the ones we retain become slower, neuroplasticity means cells become better over time at making more connections.

The resulting network of connection gives us the ability to complete complex tasks and even be that senior with a sharper mind than a PhD student.

However, neuroplasticity depends on two main factors: stimulation and the right chemical environment.

For example, a stroke patient who has smoked for 20 years (toxins and low oxygen), never exercises (low oxygen), and eats sweets and fast food every day (blood sugar issues) is going to have a different potential for recovery than someone who has a healthy diet, exercises regularly, and avoids environmental toxins. Their levels of plasticity are very different.

One way to gauge your brain's potential for plasticity: Ask if it's easier to learn new facts or skills than it was five years ago. If it's easier, your brain has developed greater plasticity. If it's harder, you have inefficient plasticity.

If you are in the second category, don't despair. Given the right tools and environment, your brain can improve its plasticity.

How to support your brain's plasticity

Our brains are incredibly adaptive, and given the right care — oxygen, fuel, and stimulation, they can stay healthy and sharp well into old age.

Anti-inflammatory diet. A diet that supports stable blood sugar and addresses inflammation and food sensitivities is the foundation to restoring and supporting your brain's plasticity and health.

Eat plenty of healthy fats. Our brains are composed largely of fats,and we need to eat plenty of healthy fats to support them. Focus on fats such as cold-water fish, olive oil, avocado oil, nuts, and coconut oil. Supplementing with omega 3 fatty acids is a great way to support brain health.

Exercise daily. A body that moves has a brain that gets oxygen. Exercise also increases BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor), an anti-inflammatory brain chemical that helps eliminate brain fog and improve brain function.

Stress reduction. Chronic stress causes a cascade of physiological effects that reduces oxygen and increases brain inflammation. Try these time-tested ways to reduce your daily stress level:
  • Deep breathing
  • Chi Gong
  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Laughter
  • Play
  • Grounding


Prioritize sleep. Without adequate sleep, the brain and body experience increased inflammation and cannot function at their best. To improve sleep, adopt these daily habits:
  • Get 8 to 10 hours of sleep daily.
  • Go to bed at the same time every night.
  • Keep your bedroom cool and dark.
  • Prioritize naps when you can.
  • Avoid screen light in the evening. Instead, read a book or play a board game.
  • If you must use screens before bed, use blue-blocker glasses, and install the F.lux app on your device.
  • Keep your TV and home office outside your bedroom.
  •  If you suffer from low blood sugar have a small, high-protein, low sugar snack just before bed to help avoid 3 a.m. insomnia.


Address food sensitivities. Food reactivity can cause systemic inflammation that leads to brain inflammation and degeneration. Ask your functional medicine practitioner for help in determining your sensitivities.

Address hormonal imbalances. When hormones become imbalanced you lose neurotransmitter activity and brain function. PMS, perimenopause, menopause, and low or high estrogen in women as well as low testosterone in men can compromise brain health and function. Simple lab testing can help determine your next steps.

Brain Based Exercises: My office specializes in prescribing specific brain based exercises to work on targeted areas of the brain we find to be under activated through our testing. Exercises to improve plasticity in networks of the brain can alleviate symptoms such as Migraine, Dizziness, Post Concussion Syndrome, ADHD and more. If exercises are performed 3-5 times a day for 3-6 months the brain can drastically improve over this short period of time. If you just don't feel like yourself, schedule a neurologic examination with us today!

Contact my office for more information on how to improve yours.You can call us at 317-848-6000 or contact Dr. Ralston directly as drralston@neurohealthservices.com.


Comments are closed.

    NeuroHealth Services
    ​​​

    ​Get back to feeling like yourself naturally. Natural treatment for neural and chronic pain.

    video Testimonials

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017

    Categories

    All
    Brain Health Awareness
    Brain Injury
    Concussion
    Dizziness
    IBS Treatment
    Men’s Health Month

    RSS Feed

Picture

Our Doctors

​Dr. Ralston
Dr. Gafken

Learn More

FAQ
Blog
​Contact Us
9302 N. Meridian Street, Suite 299
Indianapolis, IN 46260

​​
(317) 848-6000
Map | Directions

    SignUp FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to Newsletter
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Conditions We See
    • Concussion and Post-Concussion Syndrome
    • Vestibular Dysfunction
    • Neurobehavioral Disorders
    • Migraines
    • Dystonia
    • Long Haul COVID
    • Dysautonomia
    • Other Conditions
  • Our Approach
    • Free Consultation
    • Discovery Day
    • NeuroReset Program
    • Services
    • Diagnostics
    • Treatment Tools
    • Our Doctors
    • NeuroHealth FAQs
    • Become A Patient
    • Referring Providers
  • Client Speak
  • Resources
    • About Us
    • NeuroHealth Blog
    • New Patient Paperwork
  • Schedule an Appointment