Plasticity without Borders: Cerebral and Spinal Adaptation in Health and Disease

Neural development and plasticity form the foundation of how the nervous system builds, adapts, and repairs itself. From the earliest stages of embryogenesis to the adaptive responses that shape the architecture and function of the brain and spinal cord throughout life, these processes govern neural integrity in both health and disease. Achieving such adaptability depends on the preservation of tightly regulated mechanisms that coordinate the formation of neural circuits from the brain to the spinal cord, integrating central and peripheral signals to maintain functional balance. Neuroplasticity occurs in beneficial contexts such as learning, memory, and exposure to enriched environments, promoting more stable, connected, and efficient neural networks. However, when these mechanisms fail or become dysregulated, the very processes that sustain adaptation and repair can lead instead to injury and degeneration, contributing to the onset and progression of several neurodegenerative disorders. Clinically, neuroplasticity encompasses the brain’s ability to adapt following injury — such as stroke or traumatic brain injury — as well as in neurodegenerative conditions of genetic or environmental origin, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s diseases.Because neural plasticity exists in a delicate balance between restorative and maladaptive outcomes, numerous factors can modulate this equilibrium — either enhancing or impairing the regulatory mechanisms — including genetic predispositions, exposure to toxic agents, and the natural processes of aging. Moreover, growing evidence indicates that lifestyle factors such as exercise and diet can reinforce these restorative pathways, promoting neural resilience and overall brain health. Gaining a deeper understanding of these mechanisms represents a powerful avenue to elucidate the biology of neural repair and to inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies.In this Research Topic, we aim to explore the key stages of neurodevelopment and plasticity — from mechanisms of growth and maturation to processes of repair and aging — in both health and disease, encompassing both cerebral and spinal systems. Through this collection, we seek to further highlight the intricate mechanisms underlying neurodevelopment and plasticity, and we welcome contributions that address — but are not limited to — the following themes:• Neuroplasticity and Neural Development • Mechanisms of Medullary Lesion and Repair • Brain Repair and Regeneration • Learning, Memory, and the Adaptive Brain • Repair and Regeneration in Neurodegenerative Disorders • Exercise and Diet as Modulators of Neural Plasticity • Plasticity and Repair in Aging Topic editors: Thyago R. Cardim-Pires, Ravena Pereira do Nascimento, Debora Foguel, Clarissa de Sampaio Schitine Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78911/plasticity-without-borders-cerebral-and-spinal-adaptation-in-health-and-disease