Keeping fit is not just about the body. It is important that our brains are also healthy. Good brain shape begins with learning how it works and understanding how the external environment affects its structure and functions. You have the ability to promote healthy brain development through brain exercise and nutrition.
Steps
Step 1. Understand the plasticity of the brain
The human brain begins to slow down at the age of 25. Fortunately though, you can keep it at peak performance and keep improving it at any age. Just like the body, you can choose to "use it or lose it". One of the essential concepts of brain exercise (Brain Fitness) is the development of a brain reserve, which can also be linked to neuronal plasticity (Brain Plasticity), or the ability of the brain to recognize itself and develop new connections. At almost every moment of life, you can strengthen your brain reserve by performing new and complex activities, and by stimulating different areas of the brain with balance.
Step 2. Use it or lose it
Mental activities are an important way of developing a stronger and healthier brain through the development of the brain reserve. The brain reserve is connected to the brain's ability to physically reorganize itself in response to the demands placed upon it. A brain with a strong reservoir is a brain made up of many cellular connections, and with a large neuronal density. It is generally believed that a strong brain reserve has the ability to delay the onset of mental deterioration, for example in Alzheimer's disease. In simple terms, mental illnesses have to work longer and harder to manifest in a brain that has built up a strong reservoir.
Step 3. Develop a jungle, not a desert
A healthy brain must resemble a lush, vibrant jungle (as opposed to an island with a single palm tree), as it is dense with cellular connections. Mental diseases such as Alzheimer's can be compared to weeds that invade the brain and begin to damage it by destroying its neurons. As you can imagine, the disease will take longer to show its impact if it is to destroy an intricate web of neuronal connections. In contrast, Alzheimer's will be able to manifest itself rather quickly by infiltrating a brain with relatively few cell connections. At any point in life, you can develop those connections with a regular and balanced routine of mental stimulation.
Step 4. Exercise 5 brain functions:
- Memory
- Concentration and attention
- Linguistic ability
- Visual and spatial skills
- Executive functions (logic and reasoning)
Step 5. Learn a new skill
Research has shown that learning a new skill can improve brain function.
- Play juggling. Research has shown that juggling juggling can improve connections and white matter in the brain.
- Play games that require analysis and reasoning. Puzzles, sudokus, mazes, chess, and puzzle games are all great aids.
