Environmental Enrichment.pptVIP

VBIRA Workshop 2004 Making New Connections Environmental Enrichment Putting evidence into practice - Why Bother ? Dr Joan Tierney MBBS.FRACGP Degeneration and Regeneration of the Nervous System Vol 2 1928 ……the nerve paths are something fixed, ended, immutable. Everything may die, nothing may be regenerated. It is for the science of the future to change, if possible, this harsh decree. S. Ramon y Cajal, 1928 Clinical conundrums Repair, regeneration and reorganisation of neural connections are possible following brain injury The crucial contribution of environment to self repair of the central nervous system Environmental enrichment ……is known to promote structural changes in the brain and enhance learning and memory performance in rodents (Hebbs 1947) animal research Enriched environment the single most effective treatment strategy for optimising functional outcome Other therapies simply additive to the enriched environment Wil et al 2004 standard housing Enriched environment An enriched/complex environment The three Rs of neural repair Replace cells, neurotrophins and chemical messengers Regrow axons, dendrites and synaptic connections Retrain circuits, networks and behaviours Dobkin 2000 Recovery – nature or nurture These three Rs evolve from nature but are ….. within the grasp of the rehabilitation clinician’s nurture Dobkin 2000 Neurogenesis New neurones made throughout adult life Lining of lateral ventricles Doetsch 1999 Hippocampus Gage 2000 Survival Most new cells programmed to die before maturity Young 1999 Environmental conditions can increase survival Kempermann 2002 Reconnection New neurones need to differentiate into fully mature neurones and make connection with other specific neurones to form a functioning circuit New neurones structurally more plastic and highly susceptible to en