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By Hana Frenette Neuroplasticity, also referred to as brain plasticity, describes the brain’s biological, chemical and physical ability to adapt or change as a response to experiences. These brain changes include creating new neurological connections and reorganizing pathways in the brain, which promote long-lasting functional cognitive development. How and When Brain Plasticity Occurs While neuroplasticity is an ongoing process throughout a person’s life, certain types of brain changes occur at specific ages. In a person’s first few years of life, their brain is constantly adapting, changing and reorganizing as the person learns their first language or new motor skills. Typically, younger brains are more adaptable or have more plasticity, but research shows adult brains are still capable of the same types of changes. Neuroplasticity occurs in the brain under two conditions—during normal brain development as a result of an experience, environmental stimulation, learning new information and new memory formation, or as a result of damage to the brain. Several studies have confirmed that new and or continuous experiences cause new neural pathways to strengthen, whereas neural pathways that are used infrequently will weaken and eventually die. This process is called synaptic pruning, and shines a new light on the age old phrase “use it or lose it.” Benefits of Brain Plasticity The benefits of brain plasticity are bountiful and not only help promote continued learning and development, but can also aid in recovery after a traumatic brain injury. Plasticity can also help with:
Improving Brain Plasticity There’s a range of activities you can try in order to boost brain plasticity:
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How the FDA’s Patient-Focused Drug Development Program is Advancing Drug Development
Around ten years ago, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledged the unmet need — and urgency — of including patient perspective in drug and device development in a systematic way.
