Circulation and Brain functions

Jian Guan Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology Department Centre for Brain Research/ Brain Research New Zealand University of Auckland

My presentation

Blood vessels in the brain Its role in brain aging

Our brains

Vessels

Glial Cells

Cell-vascular networks

Neuronal-glial-vascular networks

Brain cell connections

Neuroplasticity • synaptic plasticity • changes in brain cell

functions through making more or less connections due to changes in behaviour and environment.

Highly metabolic The brain consumes about 20% of all the body’s oxygen, 25% of sugar even though it only ways about 1-2% of our body weight. Rich in blood circulation

The Skin of Brain

Capillary functions

Aging

Brain aging and cognitive decline

• Not diseases • Age-related • Senior moments • Can progress to senile

dementia

Brain degeneration with age

Mechanisms of brain aging

Age-related decline in memory

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Neuronal changes with age

The data suggested the absent of neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus . Young: 6months and aged: 35months Zhang R et al Behavioural Brain Research 2012

Loss blood vessels in brain with age Young Aged

Loss blood vessels in brain with age

Life span of brain function

Middle age Birth

Major contributors

• Age related hormone deficiency • Sedentary lifestyle

• Lack of mental and physical activities

• Inadequate nutrition • Poor nutrition • Obesity

• Combined effects from multi-contributors

Dementia risk factors

• Age • Genetics • Physical fitness • Diet • Cardio-vascular factors

Vascular risk factors

• Your brain has the richest networks of blood vessels. • Anything that damages blood vessels in your body can damage

blood vessels in your brain, depriving brain cells of vital food and oxygen.

• You can help protect your brain with the same strategies that protect your heart

• don't smoke; • keep your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar within

recommended limits; • maintain a healthy weight.

Improving mental health during the lifespan

There is no magic bullet!

Stay physically active

Physical exercise • to maintain blood flow to the brain, • to encourage generating new blood vessels • To provide the connections of brain cells. Look after your brain in the same way of looking after your heart

Keep your brain active

• Stay curious and involved • Commit to lifelong learning • Read, write, do a work crossword or other puzzles • Attend lectures and plays • Enrol in courses of adult education or community

college • Play games • Do memory exercises

Remain socially active

• Be involved with your children and grandchildren’s lives

• Volunteer • Join bridge clubs or other clubs, do square dancing,

or other social groups • Travel • The power of having pets

Manage your body weight

• Obese from middle age were twice as likely to develop dementia in later life.

• High cholesterol and high blood pressure had six times the risk of dementia.

• Adopt an overall food lifestyle, rather than a short-term diet, and eat in moderation.

Metabolic syndrome

• List of medical conditions with insulin resistance and metabolic disorders

• Share systemic vascular degeneration, particularly capillaries.

• Type II diabetes, obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol.

• It should be age related

Loss of brain cells from middle age

Experimental Gerontology 43 (10) 929-38 2008

Adopt a brain-healthy diet

• Eat so that you’re not hungry • Eat light dinners • There is no evidence about which foods

are better than others • Eat a broad spectrum of foods • Moderation is the key

Brain Foods

Milk fat is functional food and good for your brain

How do these work?

Aging with Obesity

Neurodegenerative condition?

Brain and Muscle

Use it or lose it!

Thank your for your attention

Any questions please?