Forsch! Podcast: “Take it easy? For nerve cells, that’s death”

In the latest episode of the science podcast “Forsch!” by Braunschweiger Zeitung and ForschungRegion Braunschweig, brain researcher Martin Korte from TU Braunschweig is a guest. In conversation with moderator Katharina Lohse, he reports on his research and gives tips on what we can personally do for our brains.

“As long as you can still remember what you have forgotten, it means that your memory is still functioning within normal limits”

At the beginning of the podcast, everything revolves around “Remembering and Forgetting.” Martin Korte reassures listeners that it is not a problem, for example, not to immediately recall the name of a person one has not seen for a long time. He then discusses various exercises and tricks that help memory. These include, for example, going through names alphabetically or writing them down. Genetic factors, according to Korte, play no significant role in this area; much can be achieved through good brain training.

“Take it easy? For nerve cells, that’s death”

Another topic is the brain’s performance in old age. Memory does not necessarily worsen; instead, the amount of data that must be accessed over a lifetime continuously increases. However, the brain’s processing speed and capacity do decrease. This effect can be mitigated by life experience and frequent “use” of the brain. Martin Korte recommends regular, moderate exercise and learning new things, as well as social interaction.

“Insomnia is one of the worst threats to our society”

To conclude the podcast, the speakers discuss the effects of stress and lack of sleep. These are particularly harmful to the brain when chronic, as they lead to the death of nerve cells. These, in turn, are then irretrievably lost and cannot be regenerated in most brain areas. Therefore, sufficient sleep is important for a fit brain into old age. As a guideline for most people: 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night should be sufficient.

The podcast “Forsch! – Science in Interview” is a cooperation between ForschungRegion Braunschweig and Braunschweiger Zeitung. The moderators from ForschungRegion and Braunschweiger Zeitung speak with regional stakeholders about their research, their person – and about current social, political, and ethical questions and debates.

Listen directly here or stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Deezer.