The clinical objective of increasing the brain’s inherent capacity to reorganize itself by forming new synaptic connections and functional pathways in response to learning, experience, or injury. This enhancement is crucial for cognitive resilience, memory formation, and the maintenance of executive function throughout life. It represents a direct intervention into the structural and functional adaptability of the central nervous system.
Origin
This term is central to modern neuroscience and cognitive health, describing the fundamental biological property of the nervous system to adapt and change. In the hormonal health domain, it is applied to acknowledge the profound influence of endocrine factors on brain structure and function. The goal is to actively leverage these pathways to mitigate age-related cognitive decline.
Mechanism
Hormones and neurotrophic factors, particularly Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), are key mechanistic drivers of neuroplasticity, promoting synaptogenesis and neuronal survival. Optimized levels of sex steroids, such as estrogen and testosterone, are known to modulate neurotransmitter systems and dendritic spine density in critical brain regions like the hippocampus. Interventions often target the upregulation of these neurotrophic signals through specific compounds or lifestyle modifications like exercise and cognitive training.
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