Does the Brain Change as We age?

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Does the Brain Change as We age? - 8/7/2008 8:30:53 PM

candystripper

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Does the brain change as we age? Do we lose some of the sharpness we had as kids but gain something in return? I know our bodies do change; do you think our brains do too?

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RE: Does the Brain Change as We age? - 8/7/2008 8:32:41 PM

Leatherist

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It's certainly become more corrupt.

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RE: Does the Brain Change as We age? - 8/7/2008 8:34:26 PM

NeedingMore220

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I could be wrong, but I believe it's a fact that we lose brain cells through the aging process - I don't know the technical terminology. Hence, it's important to keep our brains active with things like puzzles, games, reading - to stimulate the connections in the brain. It's healthy to be mentally stimulated and challenged on a regular basis.

Do we gain something as we age? Wisdom, maturity .... perhaps.

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RE: Does the Brain Change as We age? - 8/7/2008 8:49:08 PM

Termyn8or

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I think so because the endocrine system works both ways. I think as we mature (you can use the word age if you like) that our bodies as well as our brains start to process these hormones differently.

I think that besides your conciousness, the brain and body also learn over the years. That is three different systems at work here, and I do believe that they do develop.

This process might not change someone's opinion, but it can and I think does change the way they think. You notice my profile states over 28 I think, I am thinking of changing it to 40. Some people would say "Just make it eighteen", but that is no good.

You are not ridden to anger as quickly, you can argue without insults. When bad shit happens you can keep a cool head. There are the same hormones in you, but you are used to them. And that is actually one of the processes by which we adapt to survive. As we mature our response is not as profound as when we were young. That is a natural fact of life.

T

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RE: Does the Brain Change as We age? - 8/7/2008 9:05:59 PM

proudsub

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quote:

ORIGINAL: candystripper

Does the brain change as we age? Do we lose some of the sharpness we had as kids but gain something in return? I know our bodies do change; do you think our brains do too?

candystripper

Yep, mine changed to a kinky one.

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RE: Does the Brain Change as We age? - 8/7/2008 9:21:02 PM

YourhandMyAss

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Yes, our brain changes, Yes we loose some sharpness we had as a child, that's what alzhiemers and dementia and forgetfullness is. No I don't think we gain something in return.

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RE: Does the Brain Change as We age? - 8/7/2008 10:22:51 PM

philosophy

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...what we lose in raw processing speed we make up for with knowing how to do stuff.........remember, age and treachery beat youth and skill........words to live your life by :)

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RE: Does the Brain Change as We age? - 8/7/2008 11:02:02 PM

Vendaval

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Yes

UCI Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia

http://www.alz.uci.edu/

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RE: Does the Brain Change as We age? - 8/8/2008 1:06:12 AM

L8bloomer

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Wow. So many opinions, so few facts. There was an interesting set of articles in a special edition of Discover magazine that was put out a little over a year ago, called "The Brain". It states that grey matter "may begin to dwindle in our twenties, but for most of us crystallized intelligence - reasoning based on a lifetime of knowledge, skill, and experience - remains robust into our early sixties." Further, it goes on to say that "barring severe disease, we are capable of learning and forging new nerve connections throughout our life. Some areas of the brain continue to produce new neurons into our eighth decade and probably beyond. Designed with a redundancy of neurons and connections, the brain can rebound from damage and compensate for the loss of circuites with age. One example of its adabability: The older brain uses both hemispheres to tackle tasks that, in younger brains, are processed using predominantly one side." The article on the "elderly" brain states "research has revealed a few upsides to getting older: Better judgement and a more positive attitude turn out to be normal parts of the aging process." Also in this same set of articles is the suggestion by researchers that while we may lose grey matter as we age, the circuitry becomes more efficient. And they say that decision making is far superior in the older brain than the younger brain.

So yes, there seems to be an upside.

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