BRAIN HEALTH
8 WAYS to BOOST
BRAIN HEALTH As You Age
Every brain changes with age, and
mental function changes along with it.
Mental decline is common, and it's one
of the most feared consequences of
aging. But cognitive impairment is not
inevitable. Here are 8 easy ways you
can help maintain brain function.
Get Mental Stimulation
Through research with mice and humans, scientists have found that
brainy activities stimulate new connections between nerve cells and may
even help the brain generate new cells, developing neurological “plasticity”
and building up a functional reserve that provides a barrier against future
cell loss.
Any mentally stimulating activity should help to build up your brain. Read,
take courses, try word puzzles or math problems. Experiment with things
that require manual dexterity as well as mental effort, such as drawing,
painting, and other crafts.
Get Physical Exercise
Research shows that using your muscles also helps your mind. Animals
who exercise regularly increase the number of blood vessels that bring
oxygen-rich blood to the region of the brain that is responsible for thought.
Exercise also spurs the development of new nerve cells and increases
the connections between brain cells. This results in brains that are more
efficient, elastic, and responsive to change, which translates into increased
performance in aging animals.
Exercise also lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels, helps blood
sugar balance and reduces mental stress, all of which can help your brain as
well as your heart.
LINKS: www.nia.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-health
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