48. BRAIN HEALTH FOR YOUR FUTURE

Not long ago it was thought that the brain grew in childhood and once it reached maturity remained more or less stable before deteriorating somewhat with age. In other words, adult brains were unable to alter or change. We were stuck with whatever got wired during childhood or adolescence. We now know that this view of the ‘static’ brain is out of date.

In recent years brain scientists have drawn our attention to some remarkable discoveries on how the brain has the capacity to change. Studies using MRI brain scanning technology have shown that new neural cells and neural pathways are generated throughout one’s life. This ability of the brain to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections is known as neuroplasticity. What we now realise is that the way the neurons are wired together can be dramatically changed as a result of experience, learning and behaviour.

Although there is still a great deal of mystery surrounding the brain, we now have sufficient information from neuroscience, psychology and education that we can harness to both understand and optimise our brain health and performance. We each have much more control over our own brain than perhaps we realise. One of the most profound insights of contemporary neuroscience is that the brain has enormous capacity for self-healing and regeneration.

Session 1: Meet your brain

Modern neuroscience has built a sophisticated picture of how our brain works. This session will explore the architecture of the brain, the different parts of the brain and how they function as well as what happens when some of these parts fail to function effectively.

Session 2: The magic of neurons

What is it about the human brain that allows it to generate such complexity in areas such as language, reason, memory, emotion and intuition? The main driving force of everything that happens in the brain is a very special nerve cell called the neuron. In order to hold a single thought for just a fraction of a second, millions of neurons have to simultaneously connect. This session will examine how neurons communicate, build networks, forms habits, learn and remember.

Session 3-8:  A lifestyle option

The following six sessions will help course participants explore how everyday choices can enhance brain health to delay or prevent brain disorders (like Alzheimer’s disease) later in life, using the lifestyle model. The model is an acronym for the following:

L:  Learn… something new, novel, and complex

I:  Interaction… with others: stay socially connected

F:  Food… for thought: meet your second brain

E:  Exercise… The story of neurogenesis

S: Sleep… invite the night cleaning staff in to remove toxins

T: Target… The Kaizen approach to goals

Y: Yearning…  happiness and spirituality or utopia

L: Liquid water… the elixir of life

E:  Empathy… mirror neurons and working with other people

All the topics within the above framework will be explained in detail allowing participants ample time for discussion and reflection on how each contributes to a healthier brain.

Course tutor: Dr Denis Staunton has worked for many years in the Higher Education sector. Denis was the Assistant Director (Academic) in the Centre for Adult Continuing Education and Director of Access in University College Cork. He is the author of Going to college as a Mature Student: the next step in your academic journey. He has also published a new book Brain Health for Learning: what neuroscience brings to education.