The Secret Life of the Brain

The Aging Brain: Through Many Lives (1x5)

Data emisji: Lut 12, 2002

At the age of 95, Stanley Kunitz was named poet laureate of the United States. Still writing new poems, still reading to live audiences, he stands as an inspiring example of the brain's ability to stay vital in the final years of our lives. The latest discoveries in neuroscience present a new view of how the brain ages. Overturning decades of dogma, scientists recently discovered that even into our seventies, our brains continue producing new neurons. Scientists no longer hold the longstanding belief that we lose vast numbers of brain cells as we grow older. The normal aging process leaves most mental functions intact, and may even provide the brain with unique advantages that form the basis for wisdom. The aging brain is also far more resilient than was previously believed. Even into our seventies our brains continue producing new neurons. Despite this, many people still suffer from the disease most associated with aging -- Alzheimer's. Recently scientists have made groundbreaking discoveries regarding the disease's causes and preventions. What lies ahead in the field of Alzheimer's research?