A new research conducted by Derek Griffiths, Ph.D., professor of geriatric medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, said that poor bladder control is due to the reduced activity of the orbitofrontal cortex of the brain.
He reported his findings in a recent issue of the Journal of Urology. He studied the brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology.He analyzed the brain activity of 6 normal people and 6 people who had overactive bladder during filling and withdrawing liquid from their bladders.
Participants with good bladder control showed increased orbitofrontal cortex activity. This part of the brain associated with deciding between alternative courses of action.
On the other hand those who had overactive bladders showed poor orbitofrontal cortex activity even when their bladders were full but normal activity in other parts of the brain.
This type of poor activity of the orbitofrontal cortex is associated with people suffering from stroke and other type of injury to this part of the brain.
Hence in conclusion the researcher tells that in future treatment modalities to overactive bladder should focus brain rather than the bladder.
