Outline
Background
The mind, a detailed circuit, runs part of the body that continues to astonish researchers and medical professionals alike. Intricate hardwiring, connect electrical impulses to extensions of nerves that cover the body and allowing unconscious and conscious movement and interaction with our environment.
The process for each movement requires many steps, and proper execution in order to be effective. Pathways and electrical currents jump from neuron to neuron sending information as a means to respond to some type of stimuli. Neurons, working alongside one another, and often with one another in order to accomplish one specific task at hand. Much like a small worker ants to accomplish many tasks for the queen. Our bodies work endlessly to provide feedback, execute tasks, interpret information and make the appropriate accommodations all while are sometimes sitting on a park bench enjoying lunch.
However, the unfortunate truth is that when age-associated wear-&-tear to our body can cause degradation, disease or illness can set in. Factors that can influence the speed at which this happens, or the neuropathology of these symptoms can stem from multitude of factors.
Those factors include, but are not limited to: genetic variables, lifestyle choices, dietary intake over time, environmental influences, the influence of trauma to the body or a specific area of the body, or association with another current illness.
Neurological health plays a crucial role in the body’s ability to maintain and perform important mechanisms that keep us alive.
Let’s dive deep into a popular topic, Alzheimer’s Disease and some of the less talked about pathology that can be associated with it. This will be fun, I promise! Now, the topic of Alzheimer’s Disease is one that has graced the cover of many magazines and has been a topic of conversation on my podcasts and talk shows alike. However, in this article we are going to explore the fascinating role the pineal gland plays in its neuropathology. Let’s first become familiar with the Pineal gland and some of what it does for us as Humans.
Where is it located?
The pineal gland is located above the cerebellum, tucked deep into the brain. Most commonly the pineal gland is known for its role in the release of melatonin. What is melatonin you ask? Well, melatonin is what tells your brain and consciousness that it’s time to go to bed. Next time you’re at work and you start getting sleepy on that double, you know who to blame. But, make sure to thank it too, the body telling us it’s sleepy is important! As we were saying, melatonin gets information from other parts of the body that send out chemical signaled once it gets dark out. These signals are important for us to send and receive since they let you know that it’s time for bed (since we are not nocturnal creatures). As one might image, if there is a decrease in melatonin levels, then individuals will begin experiencing sleep disorders.
Reduction in chemical signaling will lead to suppression in melatonin synthesis. It’s important to know that a neurotransmitter called serotonin is where melatonin is derived from.
Why is melatonin important?
Melatonin is synthesized in the pineal gland in a rhythmic manner and has an important role as an antioxidant to protect our cells. See, melatonin is important because its regulatory role contributes to our defense response; cellularly that is. So, melatonin does a lot more than just tells us when to go to sleep. It greatly contributes to our ability to rest and recover.
Neurogenesis and melatonin; let’s talk. Now we know about the pineal gland and melatonin.
Let’s discuss neurogenesis. So, we know that the pineal gland secretes melatonin; this will then activate two chemical signals: GDNF and BDNF. Why are they important?
Well because this leads to what is called, adult neurogenesis.
Adult Neurogenesis
Adult neurogenesis occurs in three regions in the mammalian brain: the sub granular zone of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus, the sub ventricular zone, and the amygdala.
Why is adult neurogenesis important to Alzheimer’s Disease?
Well, adult neurogenesis plays a vital role in regulating conscious and unconscious awareness and the way in which we interact with our environment and live our life. The occurrence of neurogenesis in the hippocampus plays a critical role regulating an individual’s memory, memory recall, overall mood and spatial awareness. If there was a decrease in melatonin being released which would in turn reduce neurogenesis it would be fair to imagine there would be a tremendous cognitive decline in an individual.
Unfortunately, in many cases medical professionals see age-associated neurocognitive declines with symptoms much like; memory loss, irregular mood, and loss of spatial awareness (to name a few). Sounds familiar, right? That’s correct, sadly reduction in neurogenesis can lead to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (and others).
How do teeth come in play?
You may be wondering, why the pineal gland stops releasing the appropriate amount of melatonin. That’s a great question! In order to explain why this can happen let’s begin by looking at teeth. As we continue growing and developing, we learn to care for our teeth. Brushing two to three times a day, flossing daily. However, sometimes we aren’t told why we are doing all of this. Well, that is to help slow down the decaying process. Each meal we eat, soda we drink, etc.; the enamel and dentine of teeth will be affected (amongst other things).
Some of the symptoms that tell us that our teeth may be experiencing some wear-&-tear can be teeth sensitivity (but is not limited to this symptom). See, the pineal gland much like the other parts of the body also experiences aging, and we can examine the pineal calcification in order to gather more adequate and useful information on a patient's pineal gland health. The pineal calcification morphology changes as we age as well, just like our teeth.
Pineal Calcification
The pineal calcification can reduce in volume due to reduced production of melatonin in a patient. The volume of the pineal calcification plays a critical role in the deregulation of overall health. As the volume decrease it can trigger sleep disorders, and the inhibition of neurogenesis.
Researchers have begun contributing pineal dysfunction and it’s resulting reduction of melatonin production as an Alzheimer Disease neuropathology. It’s important to note that there are many diverse neuropathologies to Alzheimer’s as we discussed earlier, however; the discovery that pineal gland calcification (volume) provides important insight to researchers and medical professionals who continue to work hard to cure Alzheimer’s Disease. So, at night when you brush your teeth, make sure to take time to really get some good rest; your brain is counting on you!
Sources
Tags: #brain
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