#Neuroplasticity

A prominent doctor is stirring debate by claiming that vision can improve at any age through a combination of targeted exercises, lifestyle changes, and nutrition. The Times report, which highlights practical steps people can take to sharpen eyesight regardless of their age, has sparked conversations about how much of “vision improvement” is possible in adulthood and what everyday actions might actually help. With Thailand’s growing screens-for-work-and-study culture and an aging population, many Thai families are asking what, if anything, they can do to protect and enhance their sight beyond routine eye checks.

A new wave of brain research suggests that playing an instrument does more than bring joy or improve rhythm. In a set of striking brain scans, researchers have identified extra folds—referred to as bumps—in the motor cortex of musicians. These bumps, most pronounced in professional players who log hours of intense practice, appear to reflect structural adaptations in the brain’s movement control center. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that skill learning can physically sculpt the brain, reinforcing the idea that “practice makes plastic” is not just a catchy phrase but a measurable neurological reality.

A July 2025 study has redefined how exercise can heal damaged brain circuits in Parkinson’s disease. Researchers found that thoughtfully designed physical activity can rebuild neural pathways, offering new hope for Thailand’s 150,000 people living with Parkinson’s and their families.

Parkinson’s often steals independence, burdening patients and caregivers alike. Thai families have long watched loved ones struggle with tremors and rigidity, making daily tasks a challenge. This new research provides a scientific foundation for movement-based therapies that Thai communities have long valued.

Anxiety may be more than a hurdle for Thai professionals, students, and families. New neuroscience suggests it can become a powerful driver of growth, focus, and empathy when guided by the brain’s capacity for neuroplasticity. This shift challenges old views and offers practical steps to transform worry into productive energy.

Experts describe anxiety as an evolved alarm system that helps humans cope with uncertainty. In today’s fast-changing world, this mechanism can feel overwhelming, but it can be recalibrated through targeted mental training. For Thailand’s traditionally stressed population—facing academic pressure, economic volatility, and post-pandemic adjustments—embracing anxiety as a resource offers real hope and actionable strategies.

Thai professionals, students, and families experiencing anxiety may possess an unexpected advantage, according to groundbreaking neuroscience research that fundamentally reframes this misunderstood emotion. Leading researchers now demonstrate that anxiety, rather than being merely an obstacle to overcome, contains profound potential for personal growth, enhanced productivity, and deeper empathy when properly understood and channeled through the brain’s remarkable capacity for neuroplasticity.

The emerging scientific perspective challenges decades of conventional thinking about anxiety management. Modern neuroscientists studying brain adaptation reveal that anxiety represents a sophisticated evolutionary alarm system designed to protect humans from uncertainty and danger. This ancient survival mechanism, while occasionally overwhelming in contemporary life, can be deliberately recalibrated to serve constructive purposes through targeted neuroplastic training techniques.

A groundbreaking shift in the understanding of anxiety is emerging, as leading neuroscientists and psychologists propose that this often-maligned emotion can actually be harnessed as a powerful tool for personal growth, productivity, and empathy. Recent research and expert perspectives, as detailed in a high-profile interview on Big Think (bigthink.com), reveal that anxiety, when approached with the right mindset and strategies, holds untapped potential rooted in the brain’s remarkable neuroplasticity.

For many Thais, anxiety is an unavoidable part of daily life. From concerns about academic performance and job security to health worries and the pressures of rapid social change, this emotion has become even more pronounced amidst the lingering repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. The global upsurge in anxiety is not unique to Thailand; however, the latest discoveries offer hope and practical guidance for turning this challenge into an advantage.

A comprehensive review drawing on the Harvard Study of Adult Development shows that keeping the mind sharp in later life depends more on daily routines than on genetics. The findings align with decades of brain science and identify seven risky habits that erode cognitive health, alongside practical, changeable steps for Thai readers to boost resilience and alertness as they age.

Thailand’s rapidly aging population makes this especially timely. By 2035, about 30% of Thais are expected to be over 60, raising concerns about dementia and cognitive decline for families and the health system. Data from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health indicates roughly 800,000 people live with some form of dementia, with numbers projected to rise over the next two decades. The study provides a clear, actionable roadmap grounded in solid science and reinforced by cognitive health experts.

A groundbreaking new review drawing on the legendary Harvard Study of Adult Development has revealed that maintaining mental sharpness into your 80s is less about genetics and more about daily habits—many of which can be changed starting today. The research, which echoes across decades of global brain science, warns that seven specific habits are particularly damaging to long-term cognitive health, while offering evidence-based alternatives that can help Thai readers cultivate resilience and alertness well into old age VegOutMag.

A major international study involving almost 20,000 participants shows that persistent negative thinking may be connected to real changes in brain structure and function. Researchers led by a US brain-health institute analyzed brain scans and cognitive data from individuals with anxiety disorders. They found clear links between a habitual negativity bias and abnormal activity in several brain regions responsible for decision-making, memory, and emotional regulation. For Thai readers, these findings offer a scientifically grounded perspective on mental health and highlight practical, evidence-based approaches to improve well-being.

A ground-breaking study involving nearly 20,000 individuals has revealed that persistent negative thoughts aren’t just distressing—they may also be physically altering the very structure and functioning of your brain. In research led by a team at Amen Clinics, a prominent US-based brain health diagnostics institution, scientists used brain scans and cognitive data from individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders, discovering clear links between what is called the “negativity bias” and abnormal patterns in several critical brain regions. For Thai readers, this may shed new light on mental health struggles and introduces opportunities for science-backed practices to improve national wellbeing.

A US brain-health expert has popularized a practical, evidence-based technique to combat negative thoughts. The method uses short writing exercises to retrain the mind, leveraging neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize itself. For Thai audiences facing stress from work, study, and daily life, this approach offers an accessible path to better emotional health.

Mental health challenges are a global concern, including in Thailand. The COVID-19 era and rapid social and workplace changes have driven higher levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout among students and professionals. Research from international health authorities underscores the need for simple, affordable mental health tools. This writing-based technique aligns with that goal, delivering practical support adaptable to Thai contexts.

A groundbreaking approach to overcoming negative thoughts has emerged from the field of neuropsychiatry, offering hope for millions who struggle with persistent self-doubt and emotional overwhelm. A leading US brain health expert has championed a practical, evidence-based method that uses simple writing exercises to retrain the mind and foster a more positive outlook, harnessing the brain’s remarkable ability to rewire itself—known as neuroplasticity. This mental training strategy holds particular promise for Thai readers, many of whom seek effective ways to manage stress and emotional health amid the pressures of modern life.

Curiosity is moving from a childlike impulse to a high-impact skill for learning and adaptation. New neuroscience insights highlighted in a Big Think analysis on May 12, 2025 show that curiosity not only drives exploration but also helps the brain adapt to stress and change. For Thai readers, this means practical ways to thrive amid rapid social and technological transformation in schools, workplaces, and lifelong learning.

In Thailand’s fast-changing landscape—where automation and digital disruption are reshaping jobs—the ability to adapt is more important than ever. Ongoing reforms in Thai education, a push toward upskilling in the workplace, and the move to a knowledge-based economy all hinge on how well people can adapt. Curiosity offers a lens to understand not just how we learn, but how we prosper when faced with uncertainty. The message resonates across a spectrum of ages and backgrounds in Thai society.

Curiosity, often dismissed as a mere childhood impulse, is gaining renewed scientific recognition as a core engine of learning and adaptability, according to emerging neuroscience research highlighted in a recent Big Think analysis published on May 12, 2025. The article, “How curiosity rewires your brain for change,” draws on contemporary studies to reveal how curiosity not only drives exploration but may also rewire our brains to buffer against stress and navigate change more effectively—a message with profound implications for Thai students, workers, and lifelong learners facing rapid social and technological transformation.

A new study from the University of Michigan indicates that a single dose of a novel psychedelic compound can produce weeks-long improvements in brain flexibility. The finding could open doors to innovative treatments for depression, PTSD, and neurodegenerative conditions. In experiments with laboratory mice, researchers observed not only short-term behavioral changes but also sustained cognitive enhancements, suggesting a potential shift in how these substances might support long-term brain health. Research by a leading U.S. university is now informing global discussions on neuroplasticity and mental wellbeing.

A groundbreaking new study from the University of Michigan has found that a single dose of a novel psychedelic compound can produce weeks-long improvements in brain flexibility—a finding that could pave the way for innovative therapies targeting depression, PTSD, and neurodegenerative diseases. Using advanced research techniques on laboratory mice, scientists observed that the psychedelic 25CN-NBOH not only changed behavior in the short term but led to sustained cognitive enhancements, suggesting a fundamental shift in our understanding of how these substances might promote long-term brain health (Neuroscience News).

A groundbreaking pilot study has unveiled a fascinating aspect of human endurance, where during prolonged strenuous exercise like marathons, the brain might begin to ’eat’ itself by consuming its fatty sheath—myelin—for fuel. This unexpected finding adds a novel layer to our understanding of neuroplasticity, showcasing a radical adaptation strategy when glucose levels in the brain plummet.

The study, conducted by neuroscientists in Spain, involved 10 marathon runners who underwent MRI scans before and after their races. It was observed that 24 to 48 hours following the grueling 42-kilometer run, there was a significant reduction in myelin levels within regions of the brain crucial for motor skills, coordination, sensory, and emotional processing. Fortunately, these changes were not permanent. Just two weeks after the race, the myelin levels began to recuperate, and a full recovery was noted in most participants within two months.

In a fascinating new piIot study, neuroscientists suggest that the human brain may begin to “eat itself” during strenuous endurance exercises such as marathon running. This revelation comes from a team of researchers in Spain who observed intriguing changes in the brain’s white matter among marathon runners. Their findings present a novel form of neuroplasticity that could be crucial for maintaining cerebral functionality under extreme physical stress.

The researchers, led by Pedro Ramos-Cabrer and Alberto Cabrera-Zubizarreta, conducted MRI scans on the brains of ten marathon runners—eight men and two women—both before and after a 42-kilometer race. The scans depicted a marked decrease in myelin, a fatty layer that insulates nerve fibers and is integral for efficient communication between neurons. This reduction appeared uniquely pronounced in regions associated with motor function, coordination, sensory processing, and emotional integration. Remarkably, myelin levels began to rebound 24 to 48 hours post-race and were largely restored within two months for the six participants who continued with periodic scans.

A small pilot study suggests the brain may tap its own energy reserves during intense endurance efforts. Spanish researchers observed changes in brain white matter among marathon runners, hinting at a form of neuroplasticity that could help preserve function under extreme physical stress.

Researchers conducted MRI scans on ten endurance runners (eight men and two women) before and after a 42-kilometer race. The scans showed a measurable drop in myelin, the fat-rich sheath around nerve fibers that facilitates rapid signaling. The decrease was most evident in brain regions responsible for movement, balance, sensory processing, and emotion. Notably, myelin levels began to recover within 24 to 48 hours after the race and largely returned to baseline within two months for the six participants who had follow-up scans.