What is the hippocampus?

What is the hippocampus?

The hippocampus is a part of the brain located in the lower middle part of the brain, called the temporal lobe.

Important functions of the hippocampus include human learning and memory. Learning about the hippocampus has helped researchers understand how memory works.

People have known about the hippocampus for more than four centuries. The surgeon Julius Caesar Arentius discovered the hippocampus. He first described this part of the brain in 1587 and coined the term from the Greek word hippocampus based on its shape.

Function

The hippocampus is part of the limbic system and controls the functions of emotions and reactions.

The limbic system is located at the edge of the cortex and includes the hypothalamus and the amygdala.

These structures help control various body functions, such as the endocrine system, and are often called the fight-or-flight response.

The hippocampus and memory

The hippocampus helps people process two types of memories: abstract memories and spatial associations.

Secure memories refer to facts and events. For example, you can learn to memorize language or lines from a story.

Local network memories are made up of paths or paths. For example, when a taxi driver learns a route in a city, he uses a mind map. Visual memory is stored in the right hippocampus.

Also, short-term memories are converted into long-term memories in the hippocampus. It is then stored elsewhere in the brain.

What could go wrong?

If one or both parts of the hippocampus are damaged by diseases such as Alzheimer’s, or if they are damaged in an accident, the person’s mind can be damaged and the ability to form new long-term memories is lost.

They may not remember what happened before the injury, but they still remember what happened a long time ago. This is because long-term memories are stored in a different part of the brain when they are long-term.

Full-time amnesia is a type of memory loss that occurs suddenly, suddenly, and quickly.

Most people who have amnesia around the world will eventually remember, but what is the cause of the problem and why they solve it is not clear. Damage to the hippocampus may play a role.

Damage to the hippocampus makes it difficult to remember how to get from one place to another. A person can draw a map of the neighborhood they lived in as a child, but it can be difficult to get to a store in a new neighborhood.

A smaller hippocampus may also play a role in conditions such as schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a 2021 meta-analysis and a 2017 study.

Diseases affecting the hippocampus

Many conditions can damage the hippocampus, including prolonged exposure to high levels of stress.

Many diseases and conditions can affect the ability of the hippocampus to do its job.

Alzheimer

Alzheimer’s disease can severely damage the hippocampus. The first signs of Alzheimer’s disease are when a person begins to lose short-term memory. They may also have difficulty following directions.

As the disease progresses, the hippocampus loses its size and becomes difficult to function on a daily basis.

Epilepsy

Changes in the hippocampus are also associated with epilepsy. Studies have found a link between epilepsy and changes in the formation of new neurons in the hippocampus. However, it is not clear whether these differences occur before or after the onset of epilepsy.

Depression and anxiety

People with severe depression have a smaller hippocampus.

Scientists aren’t sure if shortness of breath causes depression or if it causes it. Evidence suggests that stress can damage the hippocampus.

What happens when the hippocampus is small?

Alzheimer’s disease, depression and stress are linked to a smaller hippocampus.

In Alzheimer’s disease, the size of the hippocampus can be used to track disease progression.

Other conditions, such as Cushing’s syndrome, may be associated with a smaller hippocampus. Cushing’s disease occurs when there is too much cortisol in the body over a long period of time. One of the hallmarks of Cushing’s disease is a reduction in the size of the hippocampus.

However, it remains unclear whether the smaller hippocampus is the underlying cause or the result of certain conditions.

Care your hippocampal

There are many ways to take care of your brain health. It can also help the hippocampus survive.

Some things people can do to protect brain health are:

• Treating chronic health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol
• Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes
• Maintain a heavy weight
• Follow physical activity
• If possible, control your stress levels
• Reducing alcohol consumption in alcohol consumption
• Get enough sleep every night
• And they stopped smoking
• Participating in social events and activities can improve brain function and overall health.

Volunteering, learning new skills, reading books, or participating in activities such as music, dance, and theater can be especially beneficial for older adults.

Indicator

Damage to the hippocampus impairs an individual’s ability to form new memories or recall past events.

Although it’s easy to forget about some aspects of aging, memory problems caused by conditions affecting the hippocampus, such as Alzheimer’s disease, can seriously affect a person’s daily life.

According to the National Institute on Aging, some possible symptoms of hippocampal damage include:

• It’s hard to talk
• It breaks down in many places
• Very bad decision
• The question is the same
• Having trouble following instructions
• Don’t stand up for yourself
• It disappears in familiar places

If a person experiences any of the above symptoms, see a doctor to find out the cause and the best way to treat it.

Risk factor

High levels of stress can negatively affect the functioning of the hippocampus, which can cause memory problems.

Many other factors make people more likely to develop dementia, which can damage the hippocampus over time.

Some of the main risk factors may include:

• Old
• gene
• Low education
• Untreated depression
• social isolation
• No physical activity

Although many risk factors for dementia cannot be changed, some studies show that changing other risk factors can reduce the risk of dementia by up to a third.

Summary

Hippocampal dysfunction can affect many conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, depression, stress, and epilepsy.

Changing an individual’s diet and exercise can preserve brain function and protect the health of the hippocampus.

Alzheimer’s disease, depression and stress affect the small hippocampus.

In Alzheimer’s disease, the size of the hippocampus can be used to track disease progression.

Other conditions, such as Cushing’s syndrome, may be associated with a smaller hippocampus. Cushing’s disease occurs when the body produces too much cortisol over a long period of time. One of the hallmarks of Cushing’s disease is a reduction in the size of the hippocampus.

However, it remains unclear whether the presence of a smaller hippocampus is the primary cause of some pathological conditions.

There are many ways people can take care of their brain health. It also helps keep the hippocampus healthy.

Here are some ways to keep the human brain healthy:

• Management of chronic health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and high blood pressure
• Maintain a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Participate in physical tasks
• If possible, control your stress levels
• If swallowed, avoid drinking alcohol
• If they smoke, stop smoking.
• Participation in public events and community events also contributes to the development of hockey