Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability-adjusted life-years and the second-leading cause of deaths worldwide. The past 25 years has seen expanding population numbers and a greater ageing population increase this burden substantially1.
Neurodegenerative processes may be triggered by a number of mechanisms, including, the accumulation and or inadequate clearance of toxic proteins, reduced anti-oxidative defences and neuroinflammation leading to a loss of neuronal populations across the brain regions.
Maladaptive neuroinflammation is a common feature of neurodegeneration as well as mental health conditions within the specific context of a disease. In addition, alterations of the connectome play a role in many psychiatric conditions.
Since neuronal connections form the physical basis for communication within the brain, mapping the connectome or determining the wiring of the brain provides an understanding of how brain structure informs brain function and generates cognition and behaviour. This dynamic process with rewiring takes place during learning and experience-dependant plasticity.
The current psychosocial stressors affecting the entire world have greatly impacted people of all ages. We know the negative effects of chronic stress from upregulated inflammatory cytokines and down regulated anti-viral responses to reduced hippocampal volume and a hyperresponsive amygdala, resulting in lowered immune defences, compromised cognitive function and increased anxiety.
As neuroplastic changes are influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors and epigenetic mechanisms how do we ensure for ourselves and our patients that we are promoting neuroplasticity and downregulating neuroinflammation?
A holistic perspective requires an understanding of the characteristics and functioning of a healthy brain and nervous system and its place within a complex network of body systems.
Treatments should aim for homeostatic balance of neuroimmune mechanisms, promoting neural regeneration and improvements across all interconnected body systems.
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