The Brain Reserve Hypothesis in MS

[pennstater]

I read the book you are discussing, The Brain That Changes Itself. I found it really fascinating.

[KoKo]

I will research these supplements. Thank you.

What worries me about this hypothesis in terms of MS is that you only have so much brain mass...as your circuitry gets messed up, and the neurological connections are not as "direct" as they once were. I picture new, less efficient paths developing (backroads as opposed to highways). I just don't know how much brain I have left to accommodate these new crappier roads being built all the time!

Not promoting anything here of course but wondering if anyone else has read "The Brain that Changes Itself". I do recall someone here discussing it...

Tawanda ~

I found a summary of "The Brain that Changes Itself", about neuroplasticity.

It does talk about taking up brain space.

"This also explains why it’s so hard to learn a new language past a certain age, says Norman Doidge.

It’s not just because the critical period for language learning has ended, but also because the more we use our native tongue, the more it comes to dominate our linguistic map space, thus leaving little space for a new entry.

Similarly, it’s very important for our habits.

Learning a new habit is not just about learning a new one, but also getting rid of the old ones, because that old bad habit has now taken over a brain map and leaves little space for the new one."

Interesting!

Take Care

[Tawanda]

Ha! I got a pleasant laugh out of your brain is not a muscle comment. Of course, it is not. The idea is one of exercising intellect like exercising muscle... both are developed and preserved through using them by conscious, designed effort.

Also, I am a huge fan of alpha lipoic acid, an OTC supplement which has demonstrated good effect preserving brain volume.

Green tea, or green tea extract has benefits, also, IMO.

Best Wishes

I will research these supplements. Thank you.

What worries me about this hypothesis in terms of MS is that you only have so much brain mass...as your circuitry gets messed up, and the neurological connections are not as "direct" as they once were. I picture new, less efficient paths developing (backroads as opposed to highways). I just don't know how much brain I have left to accommodate these new crappier roads being built all the time!

Not promoting anything here of course but wondering if anyone else has read "The Brain that Changes Itself". I do recall someone here discussing it...

[Myoak]

Thanks for your input! I've been waiting! LOL!

I am just wondering how "brain reserve" or "cognitive reserve" could even be effectively studied when technically, it is not even for sure an real thing? All these brain enriching meds on the market leave me skeptical at best. I also often hear about the brain being a muscle, but of course, it's not a muscle.

I don't have answers. Just questions.

Thanks!

You are welcome! Oh yes, brain reserve, or cognitive reserve is a real thing because that is what the studies were about... measuring and comparing. When you can measure something, it is some thing, it is real. The details regarding those measurements are in those free-access full study links.

You are right in being skeptical of brain enriching "meds" or supplements. However, I must say that metformin certainly appears beneficial for PwMS. I have followed the limited research about it for years...

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...rticle/2499459

Ha! I got a pleasant laugh out of your brain is not a muscle comment. Of course, it is not. The idea is one of exercising intellect like exercising muscle... both are developed and preserved through using them by conscious, designed effort.

Also, I am a huge fan of alpha lipoic acid, an OTC supplement which has demonstrated good effect preserving brain volume.

Green tea, or green tea extract has benefits, also, IMO.

Best Wishes

[pennstater]

The functional MRI let's then see what area of the brain are active during different tasks. The 3D MRIs let them see grey matter volume.

Neither of these tests are commonly available, but they are used as part of the toolset in studies of the brain.

[Tawanda]

Hello,

IMO, not utilizing memory if doing so is possible, does not preserve brain function, but rather depletes it.

Memory, like muscle, is developed by use; at least that has been true in my experience.

But on a more formal note we do know from scientific studies that intellectually enriching activities build “brain reserve” and slow cognitive impairment.

Cognitive Leisure Activities
Read books
Read magazines or newspapers
Produce art (e.g., painting, poetry, sculpture)
Produce non-artistic writing (e.g., newsletter, diary, essays)
Play a musical instrument
Play structured games (e.g., board games, cards, crossword puzzles)
Participate in hobbies (e.g., model building, gardening, web design)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4524787/

Searching for the neural basis of reserve against memory decline: intellectual enrichment linked to larger hippocampal volume in multiple sclerosis.

“Active engagement in intellectually enriching activities (e.g., reading, hobbies) builds “reserve” against memory decline in elders and persons with multiple sclerosis (MS)”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2822636/

Intellectual enrichment is linked to cerebral efficiency in multiple sclerosis: functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence for cognitive reserve

Conclusion

The current research utilized fMRI to demonstrate that intellectual enrichment is associated with cerebral efficiency in neurological patients, thereby supporting the cognitive reserve hypothesis…

the brain's; default network has become an important construct in neuroscience and neurology, especially because activity within the default network is reduced among patient with neurological disease.

Our results show that default network activity is strongly related to intellectual enrichment/cognitive reserve, at least in patients with multiple sclerosis…

Perhaps most importantly, multiple sclerosis patients with greater expression of the identified network appear able to withstand multiple sclerosis disease better before showing cognitive impairment."

https://multiple-sclerosis-research....brain-reserve/

CLINICSPEAK: CREATING BRAIN RESERVE

Thanks for your input! I've been waiting! LOL!

I am just wondering how "brain reserve" or "cognitive reserve" could even be effectively studied when technically, it is not even for sure an real thing? All these brain enriching meds on the market leave me skeptical at best. I also often hear about the brain being a muscle, but of course, it's not a muscle.

I don't have answers. Just questions.

Thanks!

[Myoak]

Hello,

IMO, not utilizing memory if doing so is possible, does not preserve brain function, but rather depletes it.

Memory, like muscle, is developed by use; at least that has been true in my experience.

But on a more formal note we do know from scientific studies that intellectually enriching activities build “brain reserve” and slow cognitive impairment.

Cognitive Leisure Activities
Read books
Read magazines or newspapers
Produce art (e.g., painting, poetry, sculpture)
Produce non-artistic writing (e.g., newsletter, diary, essays)
Play a musical instrument
Play structured games (e.g., board games, cards, crossword puzzles)
Participate in hobbies (e.g., model building, gardening, web design)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4524787/

Searching for the neural basis of reserve against memory decline: intellectual enrichment linked to larger hippocampal volume in multiple sclerosis.

“Active engagement in intellectually enriching activities (e.g., reading, hobbies) builds “reserve” against memory decline in elders and persons with multiple sclerosis (MS)”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2822636/

Intellectual enrichment is linked to cerebral efficiency in multiple sclerosis: functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence for cognitive reserve

Conclusion

The current research utilized fMRI to demonstrate that intellectual enrichment is associated with cerebral efficiency in neurological patients, thereby supporting the cognitive reserve hypothesis…

the brain's; default network has become an important construct in neuroscience and neurology, especially because activity within the default network is reduced among patient with neurological disease.

Our results show that default network activity is strongly related to intellectual enrichment/cognitive reserve, at least in patients with multiple sclerosis…

Perhaps most importantly, multiple sclerosis patients with greater expression of the identified network appear able to withstand multiple sclerosis disease better before showing cognitive impairment."

https://multiple-sclerosis-research....brain-reserve/

CLINICSPEAK: CREATING BRAIN RESERVE

[pennstater]

As the old saying goes, use it or lose it. I think that applies to the brain as well.

[Tawanda]

Hi Tawanda

Do you think that the hypothesis means that using our brain (for unimportant tasks) will subtract from brain reserve?

I'm not so sure that's what it means. Now I'm .

Take Care

I don't have a clue! Lol! I have a lot for "junk" in my memory stores for sure. Personally I always thought of the brain more as limitless than limited...it's much more palatable that way!

[KoKo]

I started to think (uh-oh, am I wasting brain matter by thinking about this?) how far do you take this hypothesis? NOT do crossword puzzles? NOT read books? NOT take a class just for fun? According to this theory it sounds like using our brain for anything other than the really, really important stuff might be a waste of precious "brain fuel!"

Again, this is only a hypothesis. If this story about Einstein is true, perhaps he subscribed to this theory.

Hi Tawanda

Do you think that the hypothesis means that using our brain (for unimportant tasks) will subtract from brain reserve?

I'm not so sure that's what it means. Now I'm .

Take Care

[Tawanda]

Einstein

I am guessing I am not the only person to hear this about Albert Einstein: A colleague asked him for his phone number, and Einstein reached for his telephone directory to look it up. “You don’t remember your own number?” asked the colleague, and Einstein replied, "Why should I memorize something I can get from a book?"

Nowadays, I guess it would be the Internet rather than a book, but I after I heard this story (as a tween or teen), I stopped memorizing people's phone numbers! Either it gave me an excuse to be lazy, or perhaps I was approaching that age when you no longer have those crazy good memorization skills anymore anyway. About that same time, I remember my half-sister, who was a little kid 12 years younger than me, handing me my butt after we played that card game, "Concentration"!

I started to think (uh-oh, am I wasting brain matter by thinking about this?) how far do you take this hypothesis? NOT do crossword puzzles? NOT read books? NOT take a class just for fun? According to this theory it sounds like using our brain for anything other than the really, really important stuff might be a waste of precious "brain fuel!"

Again, this is only a hypothesis. If this story about Einstein is true, perhaps he subscribed to this theory.

[Tawanda]

Tawanda

I'm not an expert on this, but have read many articles, pro and con, about nightshade vegetables.

As with many foods, there are some people with sensitivities or food allergies that involve the nightshade family. When the nightshades are eliminated, they feel better.

Nightshades are also some of the most nutrient dense vegetables.

Not giving up my tomatoes and peppers!

Take Care

Or potatoes, but I will try to make it a point to do more sweet potatoes though.

[KoKo]

Perhaps we should eat less "night shade veggies" as well? "

Tawanda

I'm not an expert on this, but have read many articles, pro and con, about nightshade vegetables.

As with many foods, there are some people with sensitivities or food allergies that involve the nightshade family. When the nightshades are eliminated, they feel better.

Nightshades are also some of the most nutrient dense vegetables.

Not giving up my tomatoes and peppers!

Take Care

[Tawanda]

Night shades could be bad

Thank you guys! I knew I couldn't be the only one who has heard about this theory. I have been doing research again on the computer. Perhaps we should eat less "night shade veggies" as well? "

[pennstater]

So much for my quotation marks on my subject on the opening board!

What this implies to me, having read the same thing as Kathie, is that a bunch of brain was burned out before we even got on a DMT! We could have been born with MS for all anyone knows. Maybe had enough "brain fuel" when we were young to reroute our neurological paths for a long time and then BOOM. If I see the slightest sign of my daughter showing any MS, I would want her diagnosed quick.

I also wonder about replenishing do-called reserves. Can it be done? Or once it's gone it's gone? They do call this a "hypothesis" so that means there aren't hard and fast answers. Just thought I'd throw this out there...

I don't take it that we were necessarily born with it and that we eroded our reserve earlier or from birth because of that. Once lesions are formed, the neurological reserve then might start to be used.

Somewhere between the ages of 29 and 42, I developed brain & spinal lesions. The lesions were a result of a relapse(s).

For me, it fits. I complained of focus issues after a relapse at 29. I was undiagnosed, vertigo, etc.. For years, I would complain that my focus and subsequent memory were not what they were before. But my reserve allowed me to still keep functioning at a high level hidden from almost everyone, then an average level where people thought I was just distracted easier. Eventually, I think enough reserve used that said enough is enough. I had to retire from the work force at 50.

As to whether you can keep developing reserve, there are a few studies supporting that you can keep developing, but I think at a slower rate than in our youth.

I took a course thru a neuropsychologist that my neuro recommended. It did help improve my memory some. Cardio exercise has helped me as well. Not sure if it helped with focus, so time to commit to memory, or if helped with retrieval from memory. Either way, I will take it.