Our ongoing research at UCLA NeuroLife Lab has a strong focus in diet and exercise and the lifestyle factors that influence mental and physical health through these avenues.  The mechanisms by which environmental factors affect neuronal health prove to be very important for individual health.  As we have found that physical activity, learning, and nutritional factors control neurotrophins in the brain, exciting possibilities have opened up that regulation of trophic factors by behavior can be a pivotal mechanism by which specific experiences can impact the structure and function of the Central Nervous System (CNS).  This has implications for the improvement of CNS functions after trauma provided by rehabilitative therapies, as well as explaining decay in function during aging or degenerative diseases following a lack of stimulation.

 

Our Research Interests Include:

 

Omega-3 fatty acid (i.e. DHA)

We are currently researching how omega-3

fatty acids can assist in improving cognition,

increasing synaptic plasticity, and support

brain repair after traumatic brain injury.

We have found that the increased consumption

of DHA resulted in higher learning abilities, by

s timulating the hippocampus.

 

Curcumin

In our research, we have found that the inclusion of curcumin in a test subject's diet served to offset the negative effects of traumatic brain injury, reducing oxidative damage and increasing the levels of proteins in the brain that are associated with lower levels of stress.

 

Exercise

We are currently conducting research as to how

exercise combined with diet control can positively

impact the brain, with and without injury.

Research suggests that exercise increases plasticity

in both injured and uninjured nervous systems.

 

Traumatic Brain Injury

We are currently conducting research as how to slow down, or restrict the advancement of damage through dietary supplements and exercise. We have found that dietary supplements such as curcumin and DHA in combination with exercise can help slow down the negative effects of traumatic brain injury.

 

Spinal Cord Learning

We are conducting research as to whether the spinal cord can learn on its own, independently from the brain (this independence is created by severing the ties between the brain and spinal cord).