Your brain is an incredible organ, housing around 171 billion cells, with 86 billion of these being neurons. Neurons are essential for processing information, sensing stimuli, and shaping your identity. But have you ever wondered if everyday activities could harm your brain cells? Let’s explore what might affect them.
For a long time, scientists believed that the brain couldn’t generate new neurons. While neurons are stable and don’t multiply like other cells, we now know that new neurons can form from neural stem cells throughout our lives. However, this regeneration happens only in specific areas of the brain, mainly in two small regions of the forebrain. Despite this ability, significant brain cell loss can be dangerous and irreversible.
Consider a strong blow to the head. Within just five minutes, axons can be compressed, and calcium may flood into neurons, triggering pathways that lead to cell death. This can explain the confusion, loss of consciousness, and sensitivity to light or sound often experienced during concussions.
Sleep is another critical factor. While the brain can handle short-term sleep deprivation, a 2014 study found that too many sleepless nights can harm neurons in the locus coeruleus, a region crucial for motivation, attention, and arousal. Prolonged wakefulness may impair the production of proteins necessary for these neurons’ survival.
Long-term stress can damage the hippocampus, reducing the brain’s ability to generate new neurons. This may explain why severe stress is linked to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and schizophrenia. Similarly, nicotine affects the hippocampus by cutting new neuron production by half and increasing cell death.
Certain chemicals, such as those in gasoline or permanent markers, don’t directly damage brain cells but can act as asphyxiants. They displace oxygen in the air, depriving tissues of oxygen and harming brain cells. Carbon dioxide, released from stoves, furnaces, grills, and cars, can also interfere with hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood, leading to cell suffocation in major organs, including the brain and heart.
Short-term alcohol exposure doesn’t kill brain cells, but it can disrupt communication between them. Chronic alcohol use, however, can activate immune cells in the brain to produce pro-inflammatory chemicals and free radicals, potentially leading to cell death. Alcoholics may also suffer from a B-vitamin thiamine deficiency known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, causing memory issues, amnesia, and lack of muscle coordination. Taking breaks from drinking can encourage neural stem cell growth and support neurogenesis.
It’s important to remember that our brains naturally shrink by about 5% per decade after age 40, with the rate increasing around age 70. Memory loss is a common change and can be a normal part of aging. Interestingly, losing brain cells might indicate that everything is functioning correctly. During development, we produce more neurons than needed, and some must die to maintain the brain’s complex organization. Research in rats suggests that neuron loss in the prefrontal cortex helps reorganize the brain during and after puberty. More neurons don’t necessarily mean higher intelligence, and sometimes cell death is part of a healthy life.
Thank you to Science Sam for narrating this insightful video. Follow her on Instagram @science.sam for more fascinating content about science and the brain.
And what doesn’t harm your brain cells? Podcasts! Check out ours; we just released our first live podcast from Just For Laughs. We were a bit nervous, but we think it went well! Share your thoughts using the hashtag #SidenotePodcast. We’ll see you next week for a new science video. Peace!
Create a 3D model of a neuron using materials like clay or pipe cleaners. Label each part, such as the axon, dendrites, and cell body. This hands-on activity will help you visualize the structure and function of neurons, reinforcing your understanding of how they process information and communicate within the brain.
Conduct a week-long experiment tracking your sleep patterns and daily cognitive performance. Record how many hours you sleep each night and take note of your concentration levels, mood, and memory recall each day. Analyze the data to understand the impact of sleep on your brain health and discuss your findings with the class.
Participate in a workshop focused on stress management techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and breathing exercises. Learn how chronic stress can affect your brain, particularly the hippocampus, and practice strategies to mitigate its impact on your mental health and cognitive functions.
Engage in a debate about the effects of substances like alcohol and nicotine on brain health. Research the scientific evidence on how these substances influence neuron production and survival. Present your arguments and counterarguments, and discuss potential lifestyle changes to promote brain health.
Listen to a podcast episode related to brain health and neurogenesis. Analyze the content, focusing on how it aligns with what you’ve learned about brain cell regeneration and the factors that can harm or support it. Share your insights and reflections in a group discussion, considering how podcasts can be a valuable tool for learning.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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You have approximately 171 billion total brain cells, with 86 billion of these being neurons that process information, sense varied stimuli, and contribute to who you are. But are there things in everyday life that can reduce this count? What can harm your brain cells?
It was once believed that the brain couldn’t produce new neurons. Although neurons are a stable cell type, meaning they don’t multiply themselves, we now know that new neurons are produced from neural stem cells throughout our lifetime. However, this occurs only in certain areas of the brain, mainly in two small regions in the forebrain. While we can generate new neurons, significant brain cell death can be dangerous and irreversible.
For example, within five minutes of a strong blow to the head, axons can be compressed, and calcium may rush into your neurons, signaling various pathways and enzymes to initiate cell death. This may explain the confusion, loss of consciousness, and sensitivity to sound or light that are common in concussions.
Getting enough sleep is crucial. Although the brain can cope with short-term sleep deprivation, a 2014 study indicated that too many all-nighters may harm neurons in the locus coeruleus, a region responsible for coordinating motivation and maintaining attention and arousal. After extended wake periods, we may become unable to produce essential proteins to keep these neurons alive.
Long-term stress has been associated with damage to the hippocampus and a reduced ability to generate new neurons, which may explain why extreme stress can lead to various mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and schizophrenia. Nicotine also affects the hippocampus, reducing the creation of new neurons by 50% while increasing cell death.
Certain chemicals, like those found in gasoline or permanent markers, do not directly cause brain damage, but they can act as asphyxiants, displacing oxygen from the air you breathe and depriving your tissues of oxygen, ultimately harming brain cells. Carbon dioxide, commonly released from stoves, furnaces, grills, and cars, can have a similar effect by interfering with hemoglobin, which normally carries oxygen in your blood, leading to suffocation of cells in major organs, including the brain and heart.
Regarding alcohol, short-term exposure does not kill brain cells, but it can reduce communication between them. Over time, chronic alcohol consumption can activate immune cells in the brain to produce pro-inflammatory chemicals and free radicals that may lead to cell death. Alcoholics can also develop a B-vitamin thiamine deficiency known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which can result in memory problems, amnesia, and lack of muscle coordination. Taking breaks from drinking may promote neural stem cell growth and support neurogenesis.
Despite concerns about losing brain cells, it’s important to note that our brains naturally decline by about 5% of their volume per decade after the age of 40, with the rate increasing around age 70. Memory loss is one of the most commonly experienced changes, which can be a normal part of aging.
Overall, we shouldn’t spend our nights worrying about how many brain cells we’ve lost, as losing them may indicate that everything is functioning as it should. During development, we produce many more neurons than necessary, and some brain cells must die to maintain the brain’s complex organization. Research in rats suggests that we lose neurons in our prefrontal cortex as a way of reorganizing the brain during and after puberty. More neurons do not necessarily equate to being smarter, and sometimes cell death contributes to a healthy life.
Thank you to Science Sam for narrating this video. You can follow her on Instagram @science.sam for more inspiring content about science and the brain.
And what doesn’t harm your brain cells? Podcasts! Check out ours; we just released our first live podcast from Just For Laughs. We were a bit nervous, but we think it went well! Let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #SidenotePodcast. We’ll see you next week for a new science video. Peace!
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This version maintains the original content’s meaning while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
Brain – The organ in the body that is responsible for processing sensory information, regulating bodily functions, and enabling thought and consciousness. – The brain is a complex organ that controls all aspects of human behavior and cognition.
Neurons – Specialized cells in the nervous system that transmit information through electrical and chemical signals. – Neurons communicate with each other through synapses to process and relay information throughout the body.
Stress – A psychological and physiological response to perceived challenges or threats, which can affect mental and physical health. – Chronic stress can lead to various health issues, including anxiety and depression.
Hippocampus – A region of the brain involved in the formation and retrieval of memories, as well as spatial navigation. – Damage to the hippocampus can result in difficulties forming new memories.
Alcohol – A chemical substance that can alter mood and behavior, and when consumed excessively, can impair brain function and memory. – Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to significant damage to the brain and liver.
Memory – The cognitive process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information in the brain. – Studying regularly can help improve memory retention and recall during exams.
Regeneration – The biological process through which organisms repair or replace damaged tissues and cells. – Some species, like certain types of lizards, have the ability to undergo regeneration of lost limbs.
Depression – A mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. – Depression can affect a person’s ability to function in daily life and may require professional treatment.
Neurogenesis – The process by which new neurons are formed in the brain, particularly in the hippocampus. – Research suggests that physical exercise can promote neurogenesis and improve cognitive function.
Identity – The psychological concept of self, encompassing personal beliefs, values, and experiences that define an individual. – Adolescence is a critical period for the development of personal identity and self-concept.
