For many years, scientists believed that adults could not produce new brain cells. Once the brain finished developing, the number of neurons was thought to be essentially fixed.
Research has changed that understanding.
During this episode of Mind Matters: Navigating Head Injuries and Concussions, legal nurse consultant Kiley Como spoke with Dr. Robert Bashuk of the Concussion Center in Atlanta about adult hippocampal neurogenesis and how a concussion may affect learning, memory, emotions, and brain fog.
What Is Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis?
Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is the process through which new nerve cells develop in the adult brain.
Dr. Bashuk explained that adults continue producing new neurons every day. These cells are created in an area called the dentate gyrus, which is located within the hippocampus.
The hippocampus is involved in several important functions, including:
- Learning new information
- Creating and retrieving memories
- Processing emotions
- Recognizing patterns
- Navigating familiar environments
- Recalling past experiences
- Imagining future events
When someone reads a book, remembers a conversation, recognizes a voice, or learns a new route home, the hippocampus helps process and organize that information.
What Happens to the Brain During a Concussion?
A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury.
It can result from a direct blow to the head, but it may also occur when an impact to the neck or body sends force into the brain.
Immediately after the injury, the brain experiences a period of intense electrical and chemical activity. This is followed by a temporary period of reduced activity and an energy crisis.
Dr. Bashuk explained that concussion may cause:
- Abnormal neuronal firing
- Changes in glutamate and calcium
- Damage to cellular mitochondria
- Reduced production of ATP, the cells’ energy source
- Inflammation within the brain
- Changes in blood flow
- Disruption of the blood-brain barrier
These changes are often invisible on routine CT scans and MRIs, even though they may significantly affect how the person feels and functions.
Why the Brain Needs Time to Recover
The brain may experience a significant reduction in available energy after a concussion.
Dr. Bashuk explained that the mitochondria, which help cells produce energy, may require several weeks to recover.
During this period, the injured person may experience headaches, dizziness, insomnia, anxiety, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating.
Returning to demanding physical or cognitive activity too quickly may place additional strain on a brain that is already working with limited energy.
Recovery should be guided by qualified medical professionals and adjusted to the individual’s symptoms.
How Inflammation Affects the Brain
Inflammation is part of the body’s natural response to injury.
When someone cuts a finger, the area may become red and swollen while the body removes damaged tissue and begins repairing the wound. A similar inflammatory response can occur inside the brain after a concussion.
The problem arises when inflammation disrupts the brain’s normal functions or continues longer than necessary.
Dr. Bashuk discussed the activation of microglia, immune cells within the brain that respond to injury. He also described disruption of the glymphatic system, which helps clear waste from the brain, particularly during sleep.
When these systems are not functioning properly, the production and development of new neurons may be affected.
Is This Why People Experience Brain Fog?
Brain fog is a common complaint after a concussion.
A survivor may have difficulty learning new information, remembering conversations, organizing thoughts, concentrating, or finding the correct words.
Dr. Bashuk believes these symptoms may be connected to injury within the hippocampus and dentate gyrus.
New neurons are especially active and responsive, which helps the brain learn and adapt. However, that may also make them vulnerable to injury, inflammation, and metabolic disruption.
If these developing cells are damaged, the person may struggle with learning and memory until the brain has had time to recover.
The severity and duration of brain fog can vary widely. Some people improve within days or weeks, while others experience symptoms for months.
The Connection Between Concussion and Depression
The hippocampus is involved in more than memory. It also plays a role in emotions and the brain’s response to stress.
Dr. Bashuk discussed the neurogenesis hypothesis of depression. This theory suggests that reduced production of new neurons in the hippocampus may contribute to depression.
After a concussion, changes involving inflammation, stress, sleep, and neural cell development may affect a survivor’s emotional health.
Depression after a brain injury should never be dismissed as a lack of effort or a poor attitude. It may involve real neurological, chemical, and psychological changes that require professional support.
Why Routine Imaging May Appear Normal
A person may experience serious concussion symptoms while receiving a normal CT scan or MRI result.
These tests are useful for finding structural problems such as bleeding, fractures, or larger areas of damage. However, they may not show the cellular, metabolic, or inflammatory changes associated with a concussion.
A normal scan does not automatically mean that the person was not injured.
Diagnosis may require a detailed history, symptom evaluation, neurological examination, cognitive testing, balance testing, and other specialized assessments.
New Tools for Evaluating Concussions
Dr. Bashuk discussed several tools used at the Concussion Center to evaluate different parts of a patient’s condition.
One device examines neck movement, sensory-motor integration, and proprioception, which is the brain’s awareness of where the neck is positioned in space.
The center also uses several cognitive examinations and physical exertion assessments, including:
- The Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test
- The Buffalo Concussion Bike Test
- A strenuous assessment designed for elite athletes
- Office-based neurophysiological testing
These evaluations may help providers identify abnormalities, understand symptom patterns, and make decisions about treatment and recovery.
Learning and Exercise May Support New Brain Cells
One of the most encouraging parts of adult hippocampal neurogenesis is that certain activities may stimulate the process.
Dr. Bashuk identified learning and exercise as two important factors.
Learning does not have to mean returning to school or studying a complicated subject. It can include reading, trying a new activity, visiting an unfamiliar place, practicing a hobby, or having a thoughtful conversation.
Exercise may also support the production of new neurons, although activity after a concussion should be introduced carefully and under medical guidance.
The appropriate level of exercise depends on the person’s symptoms, physical condition, and stage of recovery.
The Brain Continues to Change
The adult brain is not a fixed organ that loses cells without ever replacing them.
It remains capable of producing new neurons, forming new connections, and adapting to new information.
A concussion can temporarily disrupt those processes and affect memory, learning, mood, and concentration. However, understanding hippocampal neurogenesis provides another way to explain why symptoms occur and why recovery may take time.
It also offers a hopeful message: the brain continues working to learn, adapt, and rebuild throughout adulthood.
More Podcasts – https://www.shanesmithlaw.com/podcast/
In Pain? Call Shane!
(980) 999-9999
Do you need an attorney? https://hubs.li/Q04fHBBj0
Been in a Charlotte Car Accident? https://hubs.li/Q04hFzPw0
For more information order our free book!
Related post:
