Brain Ponderings podcast with Dr. Mark Mattson

Major progress has recently been made in understanding the aging process at the molecular, cellular, and organ system levels. This knowledge is now being applied in preventative and interventional health care. Moreover, because of the severe burden of age-related diseases on societies governments are increasingly developing strategies to extend health span throughout their populations. In this epi...

Remarkable progress has been made towards understanding of the molecular control of neurotransmitter release from presynaptic axon terminals and the responses of the postsynaptic neuron by neurotransmitters. We know that synaptic activity is required for learning and memory but the structural basis of a memory (an engram) remains unknown. Anton Maximov has made major contributions to understanding...

The outer membrane of cells is comprised of a lipid bilayer consisting of phospholipids, cholesterol, arachidonic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, and others. Embedded in the membrane are various proteins that play roles critical to the survival and function of the cell. Examples of membrane proteins of particular importance for neurons are: ion channels and ion 'pumps which control neuron excitability;...

A fascinating feature of interactions between two people is that neural network activity patterns in their brain can become synchronized. In this episode Francesco Papaleo talks about research studies in which activities of neuronal networks are recorded simultaneously in interacting humans or mice.   His work has recently focused on the role of interbrain synchronization in the prefrontal cortex...

Neural networks in the brain are active 24/7 and so require a continuous supply of nutrients via the cerebral blood vessels. As we age the cerebral vascular system can become compromised resulting in damage to neurons and a consequent impairment of cognition. Cerebrovascular dementia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly but can also occur in younger people as a consequence of...

William Brady deploys behavioral experiments, big data analytics, and natural language processing to elucidate how human psychology interacts with social media technology to affect morality, emotions, and decision-making.   Until very recently in their evolution any one human interacted with no more than a few dozen others during their lifetime. Moreover, those interactions were face-to-face. By i...

In this episode I provide an overview of the evidence that certain chemicals produced by plants and fungi are beneficial for brain function and health. I focus on the fact that the function of these phytochemicals or mycochemicals in the plants or mushrooms is to defend them from being consumed by insects and other animals.   We and other animals evolved mechanisms to tolerate the noxious chemical...

The vast majority of research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the storage and retrieval of memories has focused on the excitatory glutamatergic neurons that convey signals into and throughout the brain. However, recent research has revealed the importance of widespread oscillations in neural network activity (particularly gamma and theta frequencies) in cognition. In this episode Profe...

Research has shown that excessive dietary protein intake and high amounts of branch-chain amino acids (BCAA) in particular can accelerate aging and exacerbate chronic diseases of aging. In this episode University of Wisconsin Assoc. Professor Dudley Lamming talks about the cellular amino acid sensing mTOR pathway and its influences on aging and disease processes. The Lamming laboratory is making m...

Dopamine is best known as a neurotransmitter involved in the experiencing of pleasure and reward, and for its role in addiction to drugs, gambling, food, etc.   But dopamine is also very important in the brain's ability to evaluate computational tradeoffs (cost versus benefit) and make decisions.   In this episode Roshan Cools a Professor of cognitive neuropsychiatry at Radbout University in the N...

In this episode I talk with Professor Maryanne Garry at the University of Waikato New Zealand about several interrelated realms of human cognition that are fundamental to changes in the behaviors of individuals and social groups as influenced by electronic media and artificial intelligence.   Dr. Garry has devoted her career to understanding how memories of one's past experiences can be distorted,...

It had long been thought that the brain was 'immunologically privileged' (physically separated from the immune system).   However, this dogma was overturned by a series of discoveries including those made by Professor Michal Schwartz at the Weizmann Institute. In this episode I talk with Michal about the different types of immune cells that are located in 'immunological niches' of the brain (choro...

Throughout our waking hours neural networks in our brains are processing incoming information, particularly sights and sounds, integrating those inputs with stored information, making decisions, and executing responses. Staying on task requires that we attend to the details of the task while filtering out 'noise'.   In this episode I talk with Diego Mendoza-Halliday at the University of Pittsburgh...

Professor Thomas Hartung has made a major impact in biomedical research by developing and promoting alternatives to animal research. His efforts are leading to more ethical and efficient approaches to basic and applied research in the fields of environmental toxicology, drug development, and neuroscience. In this episode I talk with Thomas about two major flourishing technologies – brain organoids...

Someday it may be possible to restore neuronal networks that have been lost or damaged by brain injury or in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. There are as many astrocytes in the human brain as there are neurons and the astrocytes generally do not die in brain injuries and neurodegenerative disorders. Professor Magdalena Götz has shown that astrocytes can be...

The Euclidean geometry that we learned in our primary education concerns man-made shapes such as rectangles, triangles, and perfect circles. However the shapes of molecules, cells, and organ systems (and their dynamic changes over time) are more complex. Some biological structures exhibit fractal geometry which is defined as "shapes and patterns that appear similar at different scales" (recursive...

Polyamines are small organic molecules that are acquired in the diet and can also be synthesized in cells. Spermidine is a polyamine that is increasingly recognized as playing important roles in counteracting aging. Foods with high amounts of spermidine include whole grains, broccoli, and natto (fermented soybeans). Professor Stephan Sigrist at the Free University of Berlin who is widely known for...

In the moment most people can readily distinguish between information that is coming into the brain from their senses and what information their brain is generating. However, when recalling information stored in the brain's neuronal networks the ability to distinguish between what was real and what was imagined becomes more problematic.   How does the brain keep track of what we actually experienc...

In this episode Emory University and Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor Keqiang Ye talks about his fascinating and ground-breaking trail of discoveries that have revealed previously unknown mechanism responsible for the production and accumulation of damaging fragments of the APP and Tau proteins in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the alpha-synuclein protein in Parkinson's disease (PD). He discove...

Among high income countries the United States spends the most on health care and yet has the lowest life expectancy. A high percentage of Americans suffer with chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mental disorders, and Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases. There are several reasons why people living in the wealthiest country have poor health all attributable to unre...

In this episode I talk with Professor Jason Shepherd about his discoveries concerning a fascinating protein called Arc.   In response to synaptic activity Arc levels rapidly increase in postsynaptic dendrites as a result of local translation of the Arc mRNA in the dendrites. Arc plays a critical role in long-term memory although it is not necessary for learning. But perhaps the most interesting tw...

Among high income countries the United States spends the most on health care and yet has the lowest life expectancy. A high percentage of Americans suffer with chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mental disorders, and Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases. There are several reasons why people living in the wealthiest country have poor health all attributable to unre...

Humans have the amazing ability to instantly recognize the faces of hundreds or even thousands of people they have previously met or seen in pictures or movies. Studies of people with brain injuries that render them incapable of recognizing faces and recordings of neuronal activity in people during face recognition have shown that networks in the occipital and temporal lobes adjacent to the visual...

In this final episode of the Bioenergetics and Brain Health series I talk about changes that occur in brain cells during normal aging, and in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and stroke with emphasis on alterations upstream and downstream of cellular energy metabolism. The episode concludes with examples of therapeutic interventions that target those age- and disease-related alterations. ...

In this third podcast in the Bioenergetics and Brain Health series I talk about how intermittent exercise and fasting affect brain function, neuroplasticity, and resilience. Research has shown that both of these bioenergetic challenges can enhance learning and memory, improve mood, counteract aging, and protect neurons against injury and disease. I provide an overview of evidence that over periods...