The Neuro-Protective Lifestyle

Want to rewire your brain? Then you’ve gotta’ move. Nogo A is an inhibitory protein that prevents neuron growth when it interacts with the Nogo-66 receptor site. Exercise increases neuroplasticity by down-regulating the production of the Nogo A protein, thus enhancing the brain’s ability to re-map itself. Cortical re-mapping allows the brain to reorganize in response to injury or remain malleable enough to accelerate learning and memory.

Long before neuroplasticity became a neurocognitive “buzz-word”, I was able to observe the profound effect of cortical re-mapping in a patient of mine that had sustained a moderately severe embolic stroke. This delightful lady had remained active even into her early eighties but became bedridden with her acute stroke. Determined and otherwise healthy and much to everyone’s surprise, she made a remarkable come-back and resumed her 5-6 mile per day walking program! This clearly should not have been possible given our understanding of neurophysiology at that time. Fortunately the patient didn’t know that neuroplasticity was considered a neuroanatomical impossibility.

Now years later, brain structure is no longer an untouchable, immutable inner sanctum. It is in fact more malleable than anyone first imagined - like the wabi-sabi saying and this blogger’s brain:

So go ahead, try it…move more and remake your brain.

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