Learning Increases Myelination
Thursday June 18, 2009
Researchers at Oxford have proven that, when people learn a new skill (juggling), brain imaging shows that the white matter in their brain increased. This increase in white matter is most likely due to myelination. In other words, the brain is capable of increase myelin in response to learning even into adulthood. This is good news for people with multiple sclerosis. Not only should games and tasks that require learning help increase the myelin, but (theoretically) researchers may someday be able to trigger this myelin response to repair the damaged caused by MS. Look for more research into myelin and white matte over the next few years as this is an area of increasing interest in neuroscience.
crikey! that’s the best MS-google-news-search we’ve had all week! Thanks for that.
interesting news…awesome
Julie,
I couldn’t find your email address so I am posting my message directly on here. I’ve have MS for 7 years since I was 18, and I’ve read your blog for the last 2 years. Every time I read it, I feel positive and hopeful about the future. You do such a great job! Is there a possibility that I can do some research/write for your blog? I’d very much like to contribute in some way.
Thanks for your consideration!
I think researchers have suspected this was the case for a long time. The body has incredible regenerating powers if it is necessary. Makes sense that if you make your brain learn new things, it will do what it has to in order to get the job done. The key is to always be doing something, and learn a new skill once in a while.
Hi! I read the article. As I read it, it says “possibly reflecting increase in myelination.” I don’t believe that it says the increase is “most likely due to myelination.” My son was recently diagnosed with MS. He is very academic (a teacher) and reads things literally. I would love to forward this article to him, but he would brush it off because it says “possibly”. Am I reading the study correctly, or am I missing something? Thanks. I truly enjoy your information Julie.
For what it is worth, my neurologue said some time ago that despite long term MS my brain MR showed less atrophy than a non MS brain of my age. According to him a possible explanation might be that I had a profession that required continued updating of my mental capacities. Even if that is only one of many possible explanations for slow advance of disease, I find this one helps me keep my mind occupied by something else than MS. So why not try it?
Attention parents of kids with autism. Pay attention. ABA, OT, ST, helps your child learn, and then helps the brain grow. Dont harm your kid with crazy medical experimentation like chelation, IvIg, homeopathy. You will be doing harm. Just teach your kids to learn and their brain will grow!