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How often do you engage in activities that require math and logic?

To many people, math and logic seem difficult, therefore, they try to avoid it as much as possible, however, activities that incorporate math and logic, regardless of your age, provide an immense amount of exercise for the brain.

It’s important to note that activities which require the use of math and logic provide an excellent workout for the brain. In addition, research studies show that this type of mental stimulation, on a regular basis, can even help prevent or slow down cognitive decline.

One research study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed reduced systems of dementia in those who engaged in brain stimulating activities on a daily basis. (By 63%!)

According to the research, any type of brain challenge done on a daily basis can improve brain function, memory, and even the capacity to reason.

Last, learning new information is a wonderful way to stimulate brain cell growth and build the brain’s cognitive reserve.  A few examples are, learning a new language, studying a new subject, or learning how to play an instrument.

Building the brain’s cognitive reserve provides resistance, or resilience, to deterioration in the brain. This idea first highlighted as a significant consideration in the late 1980’s, when researcher’s discovered that the participants with highest cognitive reserves were less likely to display symptoms of dementia, even if they were diagnosed with a disease that included dementia as a primary symptom, such as Alzheimer’s.

WAIT…IT’S RIGHT ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE!

Research has confirmed that as we reach middle age, say 40 to 60, our brains don’t function as efficiently as they did when we were young.  For example, we may become easily distracted more often. (We may stick our coffee in the microwave to warm it up, and then completely forget about it.)

These examples are relatively common, which is why researchers are more and more interested in finding out if the aging brain can continue to learn, and even more importantly, remember what it has learned.

Fortunately for us, scientists have confirmed that our brains continue to develop, and way beyond middle age.  Deborah M. Burke, a professor of Psychology at Pomona College in California, believes that the ‘tip of the tongue’ phenomenon is something we can experience at any age, but may see it happening more often as we get older.  What is the ‘tip of the tongue’ phenomenon?  You know those times when you are trying to think of a word, and you know you know it, but you just can’t recall it, but it’s ‘RIGHT THERE’!

Dr. Burke’s explanation is that those words that you find on the ‘tip of your tongue’ are hidden away in the folds of your neurons.  Our neural connections, which are responsible for retrieving information, can weaken as we age, AND from non-use.   However, she provides some useful tips.  According to her research,  sounding out a part of the word that is similar to the word we’re trying to retrieve, can act as a trigger, helping us to locate the lost word.  These similar sounds act as a ‘jump-start’ to our neural network and help us retrieve information.  Another helpful hint is to work through the letters of the alphabet in your mind, as this can also be helpful when trying to recall words, names, etc.

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

 

If ‘aging well’ was easy,  everyone would be doing it.

Something to Consider: You are one of a kind.  Does this impact the way in which you live?

Imagine that you were the owner of the priceless ‘MONA LISA’, painted by the one and only Leonardo da Vinci.

How would you care for it?  Would you treasure it? Would you watch over it closely? I’m sure your answer is yes…but why?  I would guess your reason is likely related to its value, since it’s priceless.

And why is the ‘MONA LISA’ priceless?  Because it’s one of a kind.  This is what makes it so valuable and the reason so much effort goes into its care and protection.

With that being said…you are also one of a kind.  No one else in the world has your DNA coding, which contains millions of digits and data.  No one shares your fingerprint, your personality, your looks, etc.  You are one of a kind and also priceless.  So, there’s the argument for taking the very best care of yourself.  You are irreplaceable.

Can we agree that you’re worth it?

They say that ‘TIME’ is one thing you can’t buy… HOWEVER, if you consistently make choices that are good for your brain & body, you will be doing your part to extend your life, which is the best way to buy yourself more time, and the best thing you can do for those you love.

Challenging your brain with math, logic, creative thinking, vocab exercises, and more is only a small part of ‘AGING WELL.  Eating brain healthy food, staying active (exercising), relaxing, (prayer/meditation), having great relationships (social connections), and maintaining healthy sleep patterns are also necessary.

Commit to making any changes you need to make today to take care of yourself…because you are the only one of YOU…and irreplaceable.

11-10-2020-Worksheets-Maturing Minds

->One thing we say repeatedly during our BrainFlex sessions is that age doesn’t matter when it comes to learning. Although it may take us a little longer to learn things, we are still able to learn throughout our lifetime. (Repetition is key!)

->Researchers across the globe agree that we are able to learn throughout our lifetime, which is what the term Brain Plasticity means. (We can grow new neural pathways as long as we are committed to doing so.)

->Most researchers also agree that we must make a concerted effort and remain committed to all of the components important to brain health if we are to experience the best outcomes from life-long learning.

These are: Exercise, Healthy Diet, Brain Stimulation, Social Connection, and in recent years, we’ve learned the importance of Good Sleep Patterns and having a Positive Attitude.

Although each of these important components are required to ‘age well’, for the purpose of bog chat, I’d like to focus on just one.

Exercise: This is one 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 body and the brain, including memory.

->Exercise has been shown in repeated studies to provide our brains with ‘fight’, some researchers describe this fight as ‘reverse aging’.

->Exercise 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 messages to other parts of the brain cell.E