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Our amazing brain

Understanding the human brain is the great challenge of 21st
century science. We know little about the 1.3kg organ at the top of our
necks. But scientists are starting to uncover its awesome abilities.
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. Physically
its made up of three parts. The largest is the cerebrum, which fills up
most of our skull and sits at the top of our brain. This is the part of our
brains responsible for most of the things we consider us it manages
how we sense the world and interact with it. The wrinkled outer layer of
the cerebrum is the cortex. Regions of the cortex are responsible for
functions such as voluntary movement, coding memories, thinking and
interpreting sound, vision, taste and touch.
Until recently, scientists thought that we were born with a quota of
brain cells, which gradually died as we aged. But new research suggests
that we produce neurons throughout our life. Studying cells in the
hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning,
scientists have found cells that are younger than the person, proving
theyre new. Its called neurogenesis, and researchers estimate we make
around 700 new brain cells a day. Researchers found that a molecule
produced by nerve cells called fractalkine can stimulate stem cells to
produce new neurons. Fractalkine is produced when we exercise. The
study found that old mice with dementia, which were made to exercise
heavily started to perform memory tasks just as well as their much
younger counterparts. They also lived for longer.


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Sodium balance by atrial natriuretic peptide

Regulation of plasma sodium levels is critical because sodium is the

primary solute in extracellular fluid, is critical to the functions of

excitable cells, and is used to transport other solutes. An increase in

plasma sodium levels is often accompanied by water retention and

increase in blood pressure. The maintenance of plasma sodium level

relies on kidneys, which correspond with nervous and endocrine systems.

Sodium is freely filtered at glomeruli and undergoes tubular

reabsorption, but no secretion. So, regulation of plasma sodium occurs

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at the level of reabsorption. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is secreted

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by cells in the atria of the heart in response to distension of the atrial

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wall, which occurs when plasma volume increases. ANP increases

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sodium excretion by increasing the glomerular filtration rate and by

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decreasing sodium reabsorption. This peptide causes dilation of the

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afferent arteriole and constriction of the efferent arteriole, which

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increases the glomerular filtration rate and the filtered sodium load. ANP

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decreases sodium reabsorption directly by decreasing the number of

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open sodium channels in the apical membrane of the principal cells. In

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addition, it decreases secretion of both renin and aldosterone.

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What kinds of breakfast is better for healthy?

We all were educated to eat oatmeal for breakfast because it is low

in fat, full of fiber, and a good source of healthy whole grains. But

researchers have a new suggestion now: feast on lean protein in the

morning, and you will eat less all day. According to an International

Journal of Obesity study, people who started their day with a meal that

included protein-packed pancakes felt fuller and ate 26% fewer calories

at lunch than those served a plain stack. Protein encourages the release

of peptide YY, the gut hormone sends a satiety signal to the brain. Pump

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up your basic bowl of oatmeal by topping it with nuts or seed. Or stir in

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protein powder, low-fat milk or pasteurized egg whites.

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How Repeated Stress Impairs Memory

ScienceDaily (Mar. 7, 2012) Anyone who has ever been subject to

chronic stress knows that it affects on emotions and the ability to think
clearly. Now, new research uncovers a neural mechanism that directly
links repeated stress with impaired memory.
Stress hormones are known to influence the prefrontal cortex (PFC),
a brain region that controls high level "executive" functions such as
working memory and decision making. Previous work has shown that
chronic stress impairs PFC-mediated behaviors, like mental flexibility and
attention. However, little is known about the physiological consequences
and molecular targets of long-term stress in PFC, especially during the
adolescent period when the brain is more sensitive to stressors.
Dr. Yan and colleagues examined whether repeated stress had a
negative influence on glutamate receptors in juvenile rats. They found
that in response to repeated stress, there was a significant loss of
glutamate receptors, which resulted in a deficit of PFC-mediated
cognitive processes. The researchers went on to identify the molecular
mechanisms that linked stress with the decrease in glutamate receptors
and demonstrated that if they blocked these mechanisms, the
stress-induced decrease in both glutamate receptors and recognition
memory could be prevented.

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I Feel Like a New Person

Lets say a dramatic treatment hit the market that could drop your blood
sugar from 386 to 106 mg/dl and help you lose 100 pounds in 14 months.
Would you be interested? But it wasnt a powerful new drug. In fact,
Grossmann is off all medication. What is his secret weapon? The answer
is Exercise.

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Grossmann walks his three dogs four to five miles a day, does pushups
and sit-ups, digs in his garden, and lifts boxes at his job in a floral shop,
and he rounds out his treatment with a meal plan of fresh vegetables,
fish, and chicken. I feel like a new person, he says. Im proof that if
you take a hold of exercise and diet, you really can control your diabetes
and make your whole life a lot better.
Scientists have discovered exactly how exercise works its magic. Heres
what it does:
Lowers blood sugar. When youre done exercising, your body gives top
priority to replenishing glucose stores in the liver and muscles rather
than the blood, which means that your blood sugar will stay lower for
hours.
Boosts insulin sensitivity. If you exercise regularly, you can actually
lower your level of insulin resistance. Thats because exercise forces
muscles to use glucose more efficiently by making cells more receptive
to insulin. Exercise also boosts the number of insulin receptors.
Burns fat. After about 30 minutes of continuous exercise, the body use
fatty acids.
Shaves pounds. The more active you are, the more energy you use, and
if you control your diet as well, youll end up with a calorie deficit that
eventually tips the scales in a favorable direction.
Makes you feel good. This isnt a minor point. Dealing with a chronic
disease day after day can sometimes feel discouraging, stressful, or even
depressing. Exercise helps by producing feel good chemicals in the brain
that can boost your mood, relieve stress, and alleviate the blues.