Researchers across the globe agree that most people can learn throughout their lifetime, thanks to ‘Brain Plasticity’, which means we continue to grow new neural pathways as we learn new information, skills, etc. However, if we are to experience the best outcomes from ‘life-long learning’ we should also be committed to the following:
Exercise, Healthy Diet, Brain Stimulating Activities, Social Connections, Good Sleep Patterns, and a Positive Attitude
Although each of these important components are necessary to ‘age well’, for this blog, we’ll focus on just one, EXERCISE.
Exercise: Studies done on exercise and the brain include some powerful outcomes. This is an area of research where the positive impact on brain health is the most consistent and undeniable.
- Exercise improves our flow of oxygen throughout our body, which in turn, benefits both the brain and body.
- Exercise enhances retention of information. (memory)
- Exercise has been shown in repeated studies to provide our brains with ‘fight’.
- Some researchers describe this fight as ‘reverse aging’.
- Exercise, especially when done with others, creates an overall feeling of well-being through the release of ‘feel good’ chemicals. (neurotransmitters)
- Exercise increases the number of dendrites in the brain.
- Dendrites are extensions of our nerve cells. Their job is to receive electrical impulses from other cells and then communicate those to other parts of the brain.
So, if aging well is important to you, then be sure to include life-long learning as a part of your daily routine, and when you include exercise, it can act as a ‘save’ button, (like on a computer), which will only enhance your learning experience!
References
Smale, T. (2017, December 12). 8 Ways to Improve Your Brain Power. Retrieved from Entrepreneur: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/250417
