Brain Development
What is described below is a simplified account of a complicated process which is still being studied. Attempts have been made to explain this in an understandable way that is not misleading or misrepresentative of how and why the children we are treating are improving. Any comments are darren@newlandchiropractic.co.uk">welcome.
Our treatments seem to aid the process of Bpoptosis, which refers to the development of a group of very special nerves. These nerves develop during a second generation of nerve growth thought to be vital in learning and behaviour.
First generation nerve growth - Apoptosis
Soon after conception millions of nerve cells multiply and start growing. At this stage the nerves are immature; they are like young trees with a few branches (called dendrites). The trunk is the axon which is what the electrical signals pass along.
Dendrites grow towards other nerve cells axon and connect with a synapse. Synapses allow the nerve cells to send and receive signals to each other.
When a nerve receives a signal it is stimulated to grow more dendrites and thereby able to make even more connections with other nerves.
The more the nerves are stimulated the stronger the dendrite branches become and signals pass along the network of nerves with increasing ease.
This is why practice makes a new task easier. With stimulation dendrites grow to pass the new signals associated with the task across the network. This is how children learn, adults do too in the same way but it usually takes them longer.
Not all the nerves in a baby’s brain make connections; these nerves die through lack of stimulation. This type of cell death is called Apoptosis, and is part of normal brain development. The stronger nerves create synapses and survive. The percentage of nerves lost through apoptosis varies; we think it depends on both genetics (nature) and the environment (nurture).
Second generation nerve growth - Bpoptosis
Bpoptosis is the development and growth of specialised nerves called Spindle cells. They have only been found in the brains of humans and African Apes, it would seem these are the only mammals in which bpoptosis happens.
African apes only have a few hundred Spindle cells; they develop while the baby is in the womb. Humans have about ten thousand spindle cells. It is likely that these relatively few cells (compared to the millions in our brain) are responsible for much of our “human” behaviour. Spindle Cells synapse with many first generation nerves and have a controlling effect over them. Spindle cells develop in four particular parts of the human brain involved in:
• Fine motor control and complex hand movements like writing, painting and using tools
• Focus, concentration and problem solving
• Memory (short term or working memory and probably long term memory too)
• Organising, anticipating / thinking ahead and planning skills
• Motivation and understanding long term gains
• Recognising and controlling emotions / behaviour
• Socialising, empathising and controlling emotions
• Understanding and using language
Children with learning disabilities or Developmental Delay often have problems with these particular areas.
Chiropractic adjustments with an understanding of functional neurology may stimulate nerves in the brain, with several treatments it seems some nerves can become stronger and grow more dendrites. We think our treatment helps Spindle cells to develop in this way and it may help struggling Spindle cells start to grow. More research is required before we can say for sure.
Intelligence and these new, second generation of brain cells are seperate. The first generation of nerve cells that develop while you are in the womb give you the potential for intelligence. The second ave of brain cells that develop at four months of age give you the ability to concentrate on what you are doing.
Why might spindle cells not develop?
Spindle cells seem more vulnerable than other nerve cells, probably because they do not start to develop until 4 months after birth. Neurotrophins pave a chemical pathway for spindle cells to follow, long before the spindle cells develop. Problems with the baby’s or mother’s health during pregnancy or birth seem to affect the neurotrophins and hinder spindle cell development.
Genes also play a part; different genes seem to help neurotrophins and the development of spindle cells.
Studies conducted so far by the Tinsley House Treatment Centres have found Developmental Delay is significantly more likely if:
• During the birth there was foetal distress (low APGAR score) and/or birth interventions e.g. emergency caesareans or assisted delivery with ventouse or forceps, (To learn how chiropractic might prevent difficult births click here- Link to Natural Labour)
• Genetic predisposition, 72% of parents of children attending Tinsley House admitted to having learning / behavioural problems.
Treatment has proved helpful for children who have had difficult births or a genetic predisposition.