The human brain, like the rest of the body, can be damaged in a variety of ways – through physical injury, disease, or genetic inheritance. Yet the brain has remarkable powers of self-healing and adaptation and is often able to regain its function after damage.
As we go through life, our brains can be physically affected by influences from inside and outside the body. While the brain is equipped with protective mechanisms,
sometimes, these are not quite enough. Sometimes, too, brains do not get the best start in life, as certain genetic diseases (those passed on through the genes) can affect the brain. Damage to the brain caused by genetic problems is often apparent at birth or in early childhood. Not all such damage is inherited: it may be caused by chance mutations or problems in the way the genetic material from sperm and egg combines at conception, such as in Down’s syndrome. ‘ when genetic diseases are inherited, it may be many years before the symptoms are noticed – as, for example, in Huntington’s disease, which often does not appear until the person reaches the 30s or 40s. Some diseases that cause neural damage may have a genetic component but are not directly inherited – for example, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.
Damage through life
Over 90 percent of people over 65 show little deterioration in mental abilities, and even very late in life, nerve cells in the brain seem capable of forming new connections with other neurons. This continuous building of connections between brain cells is what happens during lifelong learning, and it is a powerful argument for the importance of education throughout adulthood.
It is true, however, that certain mental abilities, such as being able to solve new problems, seem to decline somewhat later in life collectively. These abilities, referred to by psychologists as ‘ fluid intelligence, may be affected by a natural process of reduced efficiency in the functioning of brain cells as we get older. There are several theories about why this deterioration occurs in the brain as well as the body. One recent theory focuses on the role of mitochondria. These miniature ‘ energy generators’ exist in most human cells, producing the energy required for general tissue maintenance and specialist usage, such as the needs of muscle cells. It is known that decreased muscle use results in fewer mitochondria in the cells, which in turn leads to a decreased muscle capacity. Future research will perhaps determine whether a similar process of diminishment occurs in the brain. If that proves to be the case, then it may be possible to find ways to stop or even reverse the age-related decline in energy production by exercising the brain.
Other sources of brain damage include physical injury, infection, exposure to toxic substances (including drugs and alcohol), and inadequate nutrition, such as vitamin deficiencies. All of these factors can cause different degrees of damage, depending partly on individual susceptibility.
Among neurological diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common disease in young adults, affecting the central nervous system. The main problem is the breakdown of the myelin sheath around nerve fibers. This slows down and interrupts normal signals between nerve cells, typically causing a gradual deterioration of sensory input to the brain – for example, loss of vision owing to optic nerve damage – and movement difficulties. However, the disease is not always progressive, and treatments are available to help with the symptoms, including many complementary therapies. Some people with MS have found cannabis helpful, and research on substances contained in cannabis is continuing with the hope of developing a useful – and eventually legal – drug.
Re-establishing connections
When neurons are destroyed, by whatever means, they cannot be replaced by new nerve cells. However, the human brain is very adaptable, and in the event of damage to some neurons, new connections from other surviving cells can grow, thereby taking over the functions of missing cells and bypassing areas of damage. This is the means by which stroke victims can sometimes overcome, or at least reduce, the physical disabilities that a stroke has caused.
The growth of dendrites and axons from nerve cells achieves the formation of new connections in the brain. The smaller branches – the dendrites – grow out of the cell body, enabling each neuron to connect to hundreds or even thousands of others. Each neuron also has at least one axon, which can be anything from a fraction of a millimeter in length to a meter or more. Dendrites receive signals from other cells, whereas axons send signals to other cells. When nerve cells are damaged, it is, therefore, possible for other neurons to take over their functions by establishing new connections. The quantity of connections in the brain is crucial. When a nerve cell sends a signal along its axon to another cell, the speed of the signal depends on the diameter of the axon and the thickness of the myelin sheath that surrounds and insulates it. In a healthy person, the speed of nerve conduction can be up to 220 miles per hour (3 50 km/ h). However, when the myelin sheath is damaged, as occurs in MS, then the nerve signals slow down or may be prevented from reaching their desti nation altogether.
Glial cells: a supporting role
Apart from the neurons, other cells in the brain – particularly the glial cells have an important supporting role in keeping the brain functioning. There are approximately ten times as many glial cells as neurons, and they are grouped into different types, each with specific functions. One type forms the myelin sheath around axons, acting as insulators to speed up nerve signals. Another type, the macrophage, is particularly useful when damage occurs because it helps remove the debris of dead cells. A third type, the astrocytes, helps to protect neurons by ‘sponging up’ any excessive or toxic chemicals, ensuring that neurons have a healthy environment. If a neuron is damaged, astrocytes will increase in size and number and release chemicals to aid neural growth and repair.
Boxing And Brain Damage
Although boxing continues to be popular, many people feel that an activity whose main objective is to injure one’s opponent – and, if possible, render him unconscious – is unacceptable in a civilized society. For these reasons, professional boxing has been banned in some countries, including Sweden, Norway, and Ice. Despite stricter medical supervision in recent years, professional boxers are still regularly disabled by brain damage sustained in the ring, and the ‘punch drunk’ syndrome (post-traumatic encephalopathy) continues to occur. Amateur boxing also involves repeated blows to the head that can cause short and long-term brain damage, in spite of the widespread use of head guards.
As numerous medical reports from around the world have shown, any severe blow to the head causes concussion and the death of brain cells. There will also be cases when, as a result of head injury, the nerve fibers separate. This leads to dementia, a slow, shuffling gait, and parkinsonism, a syndrome with symptoms and signs resembling those of Parkinson’s disease. The former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali is the most famous sufferer of this syndrome.
The Dangers Of Alchohol
- Short-term harmful effects of alcohol on the brain include dehydration of nerve cells and functional problems such as temporary loss of memory.
- Chronic alcohol abuse may lead to major personality changes, including a decline in intellectual abilities and social skills, as well as severe memory loss (amnesia).
- Approximately half of all motor vehicle fatalities in the developed world are alcohol related. In the UK, 0.8g/liter (80mg/dl) is the maximum permissible blood alcohol level for driving; levels are lower in other countries.
- Alcohol is involved in about 30 percent of all suicides and plays a particularly significant role in adolescent suicide.
- Excessive drinking during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, leading to problems in newborn babies.
Planning The Elements
The healing garden design places a particular emphasis on creating a peaceful, therapeutic environment. It is important to consider what elements you wish to include in your garden. This often depends, of course, on the current state of your garden and how much effort you want to put into transforming it. Here are six elements that you may wish to feature.
- Area For Contemplation: This is the most important part of the healing garden, and ideally, it should be a sanctuary from the stresses of everyday life. The twisting path emphasizes the sense of escape, leading you away from the rest of the garden to a seat or bench, perhaps beneath a pergola.
- Water Feature: A pond or small fountain enhances the tranquillity of a garden. The sound of water is soothing and may help to mask unwanted noises from outside the garden.
- Plants in The Contemplative Area: The colors in this part of the garden should be calming – predominantly blues, greens, and whites. Plants could include evergreens, ferns, begonias, and dwarf alpines. Rustling grasses will catch the breeze and create a pleasant, natural sound, while shrubs and trees provide shade and may help to screen off surrounding houses.
- Arch: A wooden archway will help to separate the contemplative area from the rest of the garden. An arch is a simple, elegant shape that emphasizes transition, and passing through it will encourage you to enter a more relaxed frame of mind.
- Herb Garden: Turn one part of your garden into an area for growing herbs. Not only will these be fragrant and useful for cooking, but they can also be used to treat various ailments. For example, mint and fennel aid digestion; camomile promotes restful sleep and helps skin problems; and lavender and rosemary ease headaches.
- Active Area: In contrast to the area for quiet contemplation, this is somewhere to eat outside or entertain friends. It could be enhanced by laying a patio for a table and chairs, building a pergola, or including plants and flowers that have stimulating colors, such as yellow pansies, orange marigolds, red-hot pokers, scarlet dahlias, and nasturtiums.
