How to Keep Your Brain Sharp As You Age
Just as our bodies tend to atrophy as we age, so does our brain. We all know that you can keep your body in good physical shape to stave off inevitable decline, but can we do the same with our minds?
While you may think of your brain as a hard-coded organ unable to reinvent itself after a certain age, there are ways to make new cognitive connections through a concept called neuroplasticity – the ability of neural networks in the brain to make new connections in response to new information and incentives. It turns out that taking care of your brain is like going to the gym: you can soften your brain atrophy with exercises you can do at home at your leisure, and making these new connections can keep your brain healthy. in their golden years.
What is neuroplasticity?
Generally speaking, neuroplasticity is the process by which the brain absorbs information and learns new things. This is an ongoing process that begins in your early childhood years – a phase known as developmental plasticity – during which your mind forges nascent connections as neurons branch out to become synapses.
As Britannica explains, not all synapses formed at this stage are created equal. Many are gradually weeded out by the brain when they become less useful than others, while more suitable connections are strengthened. However, when it comes to the adult brain, some of these neural pathways become rigid while others remain malleable.
It is these pathways that lend themselves to forging new connections that remain the basis of neuroplasticity. As Britannica notes :
While some neural functions appear to be hard-coded in specific, localized areas of the brain, certain neural networks exhibit modularity and perform specific functions, while retaining the ability to deviate from their normal functions and reorganize. Hence, neuroplasticity is generally considered a complex, multifaceted, fundamental property of the brain.
Neuroplasticity is a particularly complex phenomenon that researchers are studying closely, and one of the ways scientists are exploring this concept is through the study of disease or brain injury. According toStanford University , there is some evidence that the brain reinvents itself after injury or illness:
Existing neural pathways that are inactive or used for other purposes demonstrate the ability to take on and perform functions lost due to degeneration , and there is evidence that reorganization in the adult brain may even involve the formation of new neural connections .
When you learn something new, the brain reacts in a chemical, structural, and functional way, according to the University of Utah . Larger structural and functional changes occur after repeated attempts to improve your skills in a new business, but smaller chemical changes occur in the brain, even when you are just starting out.
Exercise May Promote Neuroplasticity
Ironically, the best place to start is to keep your body active and healthy. Many studies have shown a link between exercise and strong cognition. A 2018 study published in the journal Frontiers of Psychology notes that exercise is “a potent gene modulator that induces structural and functional changes in the brain, with tremendous benefits for both cognitive functioning and well-being.”
In addition, additional research has shown that exercise is a good protective barrier against various neurological threats caused by aging. A 2008 study by neuroscientist Arthur Kramer looked at the link between exercise and neuroplasticity and found that more neural pathways allow the brain to “respond to strokes, Alzheimer’s, or head injuries from falls, which become more severe with age. probable. “
Problem solving promotes neuroplasticity
Problem solving stimulates the mind, so if you often challenge your mind by going into foreign territory, you will feel the benefits. Research has shown that solving puzzles once a day or several times a week can keep the neural pathways working all the time; crosswords and sudoku are also helpful in this regard.
As Douglas Sharr, a neuroscientist at Ohio State University, explained to US News and World Report last year :
Puzzles and games, especially those involving novelty, can stimulate and engage key parts of the brain, including reasoning, language, logic, visual perception, attention, and flexibility.
It’s the same with learning a new language – something easier for young children, whose brains still form vital neural connections. However, trying to understand a new language can provide tremendous benefits to your brain health in the long run, regardless of your age. You don’t need to sign up for French lessons, Sharr says, as reading and writing have shown that they have some protective benefits against the onset of dementia.
However, it might be best to pursue a new hobby as an adult in the first place. Learning new things that expose you to uncertainty is actually at the heart of neuroplasticity – and therefore your cognitive health.