4 ms·

I spent three years of undergrad working on neurogenesis research - was actually able to show that voluntary exercise could help ameliorate memory deficits caus

I spent three years of undergrad working on neurogenesis research - was actually able to show that voluntary exercise could help ameliorate memory deficits caused by a model of a neurodegenerative disease we'd induced in rats. A Luminosity recruiter contacted me after I left, and I asked for evidence that their research is actually helpful. They were very kind and passed along a number of studies that they'd done. I wasn't super impressed. Among other things, they were marketing their games to the general public, not the populations represented in their small studies. Quite honestly, aerobic exercise causes a huge upregulation of neurogenesis (and many other positive things), so people would be better off going for a light jog 2-3 times a week. It felt like they were taking advantage of families desperate to help a family member with dementia and willing to try anything.

closed 9y ago
Interestingly, one of my old colleagues has research that examines exercise / sport practice in humans as an alternative to the WM training approach. (You two might get along :). https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_0GhDagAAAAJ https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_0GhDagAAAAJ
rayalez 9y ago
Can you share some more recommendations or advice on how one can increase neuroplasticity/neurogenesis? Aside from the diet/exercise/socialization/meditation, what should people be aware of? Are there some effective supplements/nootropics, or some promising research to look into?
- _jtrig 9y ago
  As far as your question about taking drugs/supplements to increase cognitive function, I can say with certainty any positive effect in the short term will eventually fall to long term dependencies and addictions which will, in turn actually decrease your resting cognitive function.
- magic_beans 9y ago
  Cognitive improvement won't be found in drugs or supplements. The answer is in lifestyle change and recognizing the body and mind as one system.
- jmcgough 9y ago
  I left academia about five years ago, and don't want to create the impression that I'm some brilliant academic researcher (I spent three years doing rat/staining/counting work in a lab and wrote an honors thesis on the topic). I try to keep up on current research when I can though, the work pretty much consumed my life and I kind of miss it sometimes. Regular aerobic exercise (stuff that elevates your heart rate) is still the best thing we know of. It's good for upregulation of neurogenesis and BDNF. There are dozens of papers out there showing that a certain treatment/activity/drug increases neurogenesis. It's funny, I was talking about neuroscience to a lyft driver a way back who was curious about neurogenesis/neuroplasticity, and I told him that exercise is your best bet, but we also had some good results treating our brain-damaged rats with an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. He shrugged off the exercise bit but of course asked me to spell out ACh inhibitor for him (which I really wouldn't recommend any random person off the street taking). I experimented for a bit with nootropics after I graduated. Gwern's posts are really interesting if you haven't read him (https://www.gwern.net/Nootropics https://www.gwern.net/Nootropics). A number of people have found success with a basic choline and -racetam stack. As much as tech blogs love blogging about how we're all hooked on nootropics in the valley, it's unlikely that taking some pills in the morning is going to dramatically change your life (though it might nudge it in the right direction). As one of the other replies said, lifestyle changes are still the most effective approach.

closed 9y ago

Interestingly, one of my old colleagues has research that examines exercise / sport practice in humans as an alternative to the WM training approach. (You two might get along :). https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_0GhDagAAAAJ https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_0GhDagAAAAJ

rayalez 9y ago

Can you share some more recommendations or advice on how one can increase neuroplasticity/neurogenesis? Aside from the diet/exercise/socialization/meditation, what should people be aware of? Are there some effective supplements/nootropics, or some promising research to look into?

_jtrig 9y ago
As far as your question about taking drugs/supplements to increase cognitive function, I can say with certainty any positive effect in the short term will eventually fall to long term dependencies and addictions which will, in turn actually decrease your resting cognitive function.
magic_beans 9y ago
Cognitive improvement won't be found in drugs or supplements. The answer is in lifestyle change and recognizing the body and mind as one system.
jmcgough 9y ago
I left academia about five years ago, and don't want to create the impression that I'm some brilliant academic researcher (I spent three years doing rat/staining/counting work in a lab and wrote an honors thesis on the topic). I try to keep up on current research when I can though, the work pretty much consumed my life and I kind of miss it sometimes. Regular aerobic exercise (stuff that elevates your heart rate) is still the best thing we know of. It's good for upregulation of neurogenesis and BDNF. There are dozens of papers out there showing that a certain treatment/activity/drug increases neurogenesis. It's funny, I was talking about neuroscience to a lyft driver a way back who was curious about neurogenesis/neuroplasticity, and I told him that exercise is your best bet, but we also had some good results treating our brain-damaged rats with an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. He shrugged off the exercise bit but of course asked me to spell out ACh inhibitor for him (which I really wouldn't recommend any random person off the street taking). I experimented for a bit with nootropics after I graduated. Gwern's posts are really interesting if you haven't read him (https://www.gwern.net/Nootropics https://www.gwern.net/Nootropics). A number of people have found success with a basic choline and -racetam stack. As much as tech blogs love blogging about how we're all hooked on nootropics in the valley, it's unlikely that taking some pills in the morning is going to dramatically change your life (though it might nudge it in the right direction). As one of the other replies said, lifestyle changes are still the most effective approach.