As it is essential to exercise the body. Similarly, it is crucial to exercise the brain. Many researchers do believe that this maximum applies to brain health. Brain training is all the rage these days, often touted as a way to sharpen your mind and even boost intelligence.
While many cognitive scientists suggest that the claims surrounding brain training are both exaggerated and misleading, there is an abundance of research suggesting that certain types of activities can benefit brain health.
Taking care of the body:
To start to take care of the mind, first, it is needed to take care of the body. Researchers have repeatedly shown that people who engage in healthy behaviors such as exercise and proper nutrition are less susceptible to the cognitive declines associated with the aging process.
Studies from 2006 even suggest that movement can make one aware and protect one’s brain from shrinkage as it ages. Research on mice in 2013 has even revealed that exercise can increase neurogenesis, or the formation of new brain cells, in the brain’s hippocampus.Â
One study published in 2013 looked at healthy behavior in nearly 2,300 men over thirty years. Researchers looked at the participant’s behavior and cognitive abilities starting in middle age tracked their progress throughout old age. The researchers found that men who practiced certain healthy behaviors were around 60 percent less likely to exercise cognitive impairment and dementia as they age.Â
These healthy behaviors include not smoking, maintaining a balanced BMI, regularly exercising, consuming lots of fruits and vegetables and fruits, and consuming a low to moderate amount of alcohol. So to keep a better mind, start by working on your physical health first.
Go for a walk, try to give up excessive alcohol consumption. Some of these may be more difficult than others, but your brain will thank you for years to come.
Draw a map of our town from memory:
While you feel like you can navigate the streets of your colony with your eyes closed, try challenging the brain by actually drawing a map of your town from memory. Try to include significant roads, major side streets, and local landmarks.
Once you are done, match it with an actual map of the area. If you found this activity too easy, try drawing a less familiar place from memory, such as a map of Europe, and label every state or country. In attempting to do this task, it helps the functioning of the brain. This exercise helps to activate a variety of areas of the brain.
Learning new:
This brain exercise may give the most bang for the buck. Learning something new is one way to keep the brain on its toes and continually introduce new tasks. In a study, researchers assigned older adults to learn various new skills ranging from digital photography to playing badminton.
Then they did memory tests and matched the experimental groups to control groups. Those in the control groups were performing activities like watching movies, listening to the radio.Â
The researchers found that only those participants who had learned a new skill experienced improvement on the memory tests. They also discovered that these memory improvements were still present when tested again a year later.
Some tasks which may be tried upon include learning a new language, learning to play a new musical instrument, or even learning contemporary art. Not only does it stretch the mind, but it will also be continually learning something new by expanding the skills and becoming more accomplished. These exercise helps to increase mental health.
