Brain Plasticity - Volume Pre-press, issue Pre-press

Authors: Rivi, Veronica | Batabyal, Anuradha | Lukowiak, Ken

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract:  There has been a significant increase in the incidence of multiple neurodegenerative and terminal diseases in the human population with life expectancy increasing in the current times. This highlights the urgent need for a more comprehensive understanding of how different aspects of lifestyle, in particular diet, may affect neural functioning and consequently cognitive performance as well as in enhancing overall health. Flavonoids, found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and derived beverages, provide a new avenue of research that shows a promising influence on different aspects of brain function. However, despite the promising evidence, most bioactive compounds lack strong …clinical research efficacy. In the current scoping review, we highlight the effects of Flavonoids on cognition and neural plasticity across vertebrates and invertebrates with special emphasis on the studies conducted in the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis , which has emerged to be a functionally dynamic model for studies on learning and memory. In conclusion, we suggest future research directions and discuss the social, cultural, and ethnic dependencies of bioactive compounds that influence how these compounds are used and accepted globally. Bridging the gap between preclinical and clinical studies about the effects of bioactive natural compounds on brain health will surely lead to lifestyle choices such as dietary Flavonoids being used complementarily rather than as replacements to classical drugs bringing about a healthier future. Show more

Keywords: Invertebrates, Flavonoids, memory, learning, cognitive functions, neurodegenerative disorders, psychiatric disorders

DOI: 10.3233/BPL-230150

Citation: Brain Plasticity, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-17, 2023

Article Type: Correction

DOI: 10.3233/BPL-239000

Citation: Brain Plasticity, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-2, 2023

Authors: Milbocker, Katrina A. | Smith, Ian F. | Klintsova, Anna Y.

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: Brain plasticity, also termed neuroplasticity, refers to the brain’s life-long ability to reorganize itself in response to various changes in the environment, experiences, and learning. The brain is a dynamic organ capable of responding to stimulating or depriving environments, activities, and circumstances from changes in gene expression, release of neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors, to cellular reorganization and reprogrammed functional connectivity. The rate of neuroplastic alteration varies across the lifespan, creating further challenges for understanding and manipulating these processes to benefit motor control, learning, memory, and neural remodeling after injury. Neuroplasticity-related research spans several decades, and hundreds of reviews have been …written and published since its inception. Here we present an overview of the empirical papers published between 2017 and 2023 that address the unique effects of exercise, plasticity-stimulating activities, and the depriving effect of social isolation on brain plasticity and behavior. Show more

Keywords: Neuronal plasticity, exercise, resistance training, social interaction

DOI: 10.3233/BPL-230151

Citation: Brain Plasticity, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-21, 2023