What Is Cognitive Reserve? скачать в хорошем качестве

What Is Cognitive Reserve?

For more visit www.brainhealth4ms.com We all know people who are really resilient – people who keep on keepin’ on no matter what life throws at them. In this video Dr Sabina Brennan [ www.sabinabrennan.ie ] explains that our brain has the capacity for resilience too - provided we give it a helping hand by living a brain healthy lifestyle. For example, when a brain disease like Multiple Sclerosis strikes it attacks brain and spinal cord tissue causing communication problems within the central nervous system that can lead to physical, visual or cognitive impairments. Now, we know that some people with Multiple Sclerosis can tolerate more disease pathology than others while still retaining cognitive function Scientists believe that their resilience, in the face of disease pathology is linked to certain life exposures. Here’s how Scientists think it works. The brain has an inbuilt, but finite, resource, called neurological reserve. This reserve allows the brain to retain function, by reorganizing itself to compensate for brain atrophy and loss of nerve cells and nerve fibers The brain does this by rerouting communication pathways to avoid damaged areas. It can also adapt undamaged areas to take on functions that were once carried out by areas now damaged by disease. This really is pretty fantastic - but unfortunately it just cant keep pace with disease activity. Eventually Neurological Reserve is exhausted and cognitive deficits become apparent. But that's not the end of the story. Neurological reserve has two components; Brain reserve which refers to the size of the brain & Cognitive reserve, which is the ability to actively compensate and to make more effective and efficient use of brain networks. Our lifetime experiences can increase cognitive reserve and help to maintain brain reserves. This gives us a better chance to hang onto cognitive function if life throws us a curve ball in the shape of disease or injury. All other things being equal, people with Multiple Sclerosis who have high cognitive reserve lose less cognitive function than those with less cognitive reserve for the same amount of brain lesions and atrophy. Give your brain a helping hand by maximising your brain health. Its like giving your neurological reserve a new lease of life This film was written, produced and directed by Dr Sabina Brennan for more information on brain health for people living with multiple sclerosis visit www.brainhealth4ms.com