1. Aging
The Effects of Aging on the Brain
By Matthew Kernodle
ECE 275 Current Issues in the Brain
02/20/2012

2. How the Brain Ages
o Currently being researched
o mDNA mutations interfere
with normal proteins in the
brain
o Vascular atrophy of brain
tissue
o Diet and environmental
factors
o Genetic programming of
cellular repair and
maintenance in the brain

3. The Effects of Brain Aging
 More of the brain works harder to
accomplish simple tasks
 Memory recall is more difficult
 Tasks requiring matching skills are
more difficult
 Information processing skills are
reduced.
Older Atrophied brain (left)
Young healthy brain (right)

4. Ways to Reduce the Effects of Aging in
the Brain
• Diet Plays a major role in
reducing the effects of aging.
• Increase B-vitamin, Omega-3, and
DHA to help reduce the effects of aging of the brain.
• Exercise (get up and do something)
• Learning new things. This can be taking a new class,
learning a new dance, or playing a instrument.

5. Helpful Video Links
• Foods for healthy brains:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDeLf93JXoY
• Lecture on brain aging:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTIEyPvzjP4
• New research into brain aging:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mp4OoMF1Z0

6. Bibliography
• http://www.immortalhumans.com/how-to-stop-your-aging-brain-
from-mental-deterioration-and-shrinkage/
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8265592/Tracking-the-tell-tale-
signs-of-pure-genius.html
• http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-7159824-mri-brain-
scan.php
• http://www.kipnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/brainfood-01.jpg
• Batouli, A.H., Boroomand, A., Fakhri, M., Sikaroodi, H., Oghabian,
M.A., and K. Firouznia. (2009). The Effects of Aging On Resting-
State Brain Function: An fMRI Study. Iranian Journal of Radiology,
6(13), pages 153 – 158.
• Cole, G. M., Ma, Q., and Sally Frautschy. (2010). Dietary Fatty
Acids and the Aging Brain. Nutrition Reviews 68(2), pages S102 –
S111. Doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00345.x

7. Bibliography Cont.
• Coubard, O., Duretz, S., Lefebvre, V., Lapalus, P., and Lena Ferrufino. (09/20/2011).
Practice of contemporary dance improves cognitive flexibility in aging. Frontiers in
Aging Neuroscience, 3(13). Retreived from
http://www.frontiersin.org/aging_neuroscience/10.3389/fnagi.2011.00013/full.
doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2011.0001
• Folstein, M., and Susan Folstein. (2010). Functional Expressions of the Aging Brain.
Nutrition
Reviews,68(2), pages S70 – S73. Doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00351.x
• Greenwood PM and Parasuraman R (2010) Neuronal and cognitive plasticity: a
neurocognitive frame work for ameliorating cognitive aging. Front. Ag. Neurosci.
2(150). Retrieved from
http://www.frontiersin.org/aging_neuroscience/10.3389/fnagi.2010.00150/full. doi:
10.3389/fnagi.2010.00150
• Kirkwood, T. (2010). Global Aging and the Brain. Nutrition Reviews.
Reviews,68(2), pages S65 – S69. Doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00343.x