What is “brain capital” and what is its link to Alzheimer’s disease?
Just as we have a “sunshine” finite, we have a “brain” finite. In practical terms, this means that our supply of neurons is not inexhaustible. From uterine life until around age 25, the brain develops to reach 80 to 100 billion neurons. After that, neuronal production slows considerably. However, brain activity doesn’t stop. “Our brain continues to function and learn, even after age 25, not through the production of new neurons, but through its capacity to make more connections. Knowing that one neuron can connect 10,000 other neurons, 100 billion neurons can generate 100 quadrillion connections!” Thanks to this complex network, the brain is able to perform tasks, learn, acquire new automatic skills, and so on.
The key is to foster these connections. “The more you exercise your brain, the more connections you make between your neurons, and the more you preserve your brain’s capacity, in other words, your cognitive reserve.” And the consequence, he continues, is that “the longer you maintain this capacity, the longer it will take for the brain to decline. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, the onset of the first symptoms will be delayed.”
Memory problems: the first warning signs appear after age 45
According to Philippe Amouyel, we must be vigilant about the first signs of brain aging. The specialist explains that these signs of cognitive decline are normal, just as the first signs of aging appear, such as muscle loss or presbyopia . “Generally, it starts between 40 and 45 years old, with a classic sign: it’s the age when we start forgetting proper names or losing things!” While this often causes concern, it’s actually perfectly normal, he reassures us, as these lapses of memory rely on “pure” memory, as opposed to associative or repetitive memory. He then gives an example. “Imagine being introduced to Mr. X for the first time. You hear his name, but you’re not necessarily paying attention and you don’t make the effort to repeat his name in your head or associate it with another word to remember it. So you’re making a pure memory effort. If you run into him two days later on the street, chances are it will take you a while to recognize him. Even if that’s normal, it’s a clear sign that the brain isn’t as efficient anymore.”
In summary, from the moment you start to notice small signs of cognitive dysfunction, it’s the right time to start taking care of your brain, just as you would take care of your muscles, for example.
Preventing memory loss: here’s the best activity to keep your brain active
