How Does Smell Get from the Nose to the Brain?

How Does Smell Get from the Nose to the Brain?

Odorous substances in the air are processed through the following steps: 1. What Part of the Brain Is Most Responsible for Smell? There are several and important parts of the brain that are responsible for smell; however, the olfactory bulb is responsible for transmitting the olfactory (smell) information from the olfactory nerves to the brain…

What Is Neuroinflammation of the Brain?

What Is Neuroinflammation of the Brain?

Neuroinflammation is the inflammation of the brain or the spinal cord due to the production of cytokines, chemokines, secondary messengers, and reactive oxygen species. 1- What Are cytokines? Cytokines are small proteins that are produced by white blood cells, such as lymphocytes T and lymphocytes B, and endothelial cells, mast cells, fibroblasts, and mesenchymal cells….

What Are the 7 Major Neurotransmitters (and Their Role in Diseases)?

What Are the 7 Major Neurotransmitters (and Their Role in Diseases)?

Neurotransmitters are messengers that transmit specific chemical instructions from a neuron to another neuron and from neurons to tissues and organs. The 7 major neurotransmitters are: Neurotransmitters are produced by neurons and released in gaps that are found between neurons and between neurons and organs. These junctions are known as synapses. When neurotransmitters are released…

Slowing Down Short-Term Memory Loss

Slowing Down Short-Term Memory Loss

Short-term memory (STM) is the ability of the mind to consciously store, maintain, and manipulate phonological (speech sound), spatial, and visual information for limited periods of time. Therefore, STM contributes to the learning of new information and aspects of speech comprehension and production. However, STM loss is observed during aging (after 55 years of age)…

How Walking and Dancing Improve Brain Function

How Walking and Dancing Improve Brain Function

White matter is parts of the brain that comprise myelinated axons, while grey matter comprises neurons bodies, axon terminals, dendrites, and synapses. Myelin that covers the white matter axons is essential for the fast transmission of electrical signals to the grey matter nerve cells, and therefore, plays a key role in learning and brain function…

Exercise and Cognitive Deficits

Exercise and Cognitive Deficits

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as aging-related neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries result in severe cognitive deficits that are associated with atrophy of the hippocampus, a brain structure involved in short-term and long-term memories, and in the processing of spatial memory that controls navigation [1]. Exercise and physical activity have been shown to reduce or slow down these cognitive…

The Gut Flora and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

The Gut Flora and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

The hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with the accumulation of “senile” plaques that are composed of amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein that surround neurons in affected regions. This accumulation results in loss of neurons in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, leading to progressive cognitive decline such as memory defects. A connection between the brain and…