Question

1. Explain in detail what ways one's social or cultural environment can provide protection from serious negative impacts of mental illness? Describe two or three specific examples

2. hypothesize how exercise is positively impacting the brain at cellular and circuit levels in patients with severe cognitive impairment. (ie, What mechanisms are involved that result in improved brain function?)

Answer 1

1. The WHO defines mental health as "a state of well-being in which every individual realizes him or her as her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fritfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community". In the absence of mental disorder does not necessarily mean the presence of good mental health.

Stressors experienced in sensitive development periods during early childhood affect biological stress regulatory systems, neural mechanisms by which stress responses are regulated in the brain, and the expression of genes related to stress responses. The effect of stressors on these systems are buffered by social support provided by loving, responsive and stable relationsips with a caring adult. Beyond early childhood, both social supports in the family and widr community, and positive beliefs related to optimism, self esteem, and sense of control buffer the effects of stressors. Stress realted behavioural response include alcohol and drug abuse, which are classified as mental disorders when then lead to alcohol or drug dependency.

2. Among the biological effects of physical exercise, those linked to "neuroplasticity" are quite important. A great number of studies demonstrated that in adults, physical exertion determines structural changes such as increased gray matter volume in frontal and hippocambal regions and reduced damage in gray matter. Moreover PE facilitates the release of neurotrophic factors such as peripheral BDNF, increases blood flow, improves cerebrovascular health and determines benefits of glucose and lipid metabolism carrying "food" to the brain. THese effects are reflected on cognitive functioning.