Just as aerobic exercise and strength training is recommended for a healthy body, so cross training is important for a healthy brain. You need variety in your diet to keep it healthy, and you need variety in the stimulation to the brain.
Scientists over the years have believed that those with higher educated seem less likely to get Alzheimer's, perhaps because of more mental stimulation. They believed the brain built up reserves that provided protection. There's been a shift lately. Recent studies show that learning doesn't just protect or slow, but actually may stop dementia from developing to begin with.
The more the brain is exercised, the less there will be the protein buildup that is associated with Alzheimer's. That may explain why more education may keep your brain healthier. When you are learning anything new, whether through a college class or otherwise, your brain is working in several areas at once. Decision making, figuring out problems, memorizing how to do something, reading, writing reports, are all required. The multi-tasking involving different sections of the brain is cross training your brain.
Your education--and brain stimulation--continues naturally outside of school, but especially when learning something new. While crosswords, sudoku and puzzles like them provide brain stimulation that improve connections between cells and even encourage new growth, games such as video games require multitasking and interaction.
Activities involving multiple tasks or requiring communication, interaction, and organization appear to the most effective. Schedule time every day to stimulate your brain. Cross-training with various methods will help keep you mentally sharp.
Learn. Keep learning. Take classes. Study. Read. Write.
Image courtesy of geralt at Pixabay PD
The more stimulation, the better the connections in your brain (Use it or lose it). Games can stimulate memory and attention connections within the brain. The stimulation guards against the plaque build up that affects your ability to think.
Crosswords are said to be good for the front temporal lobe of the brain, but not necessarily as effective on short term memory loss. That is a part of the brain further back, near the ear. It's fascinating to me they are able to pin that down. Brain teasers and logic puzzles are two additional games that provide a workout for your brain. They help build cognitive association skills. So if you are in the middle of one, thinking your brain is tired, know that it is working hard and stimulating those cell connections.
Changing things up is another interesting way to train the brain. Take a right turn instead of a left turn to get to work. Use your other hand for some tasks (like eating). Even reorganizing your computer or your recipes provides new and different stimulation in your brain. New ways of doing things seem to build new brain pathways as well.
Most of us like games of some sort. Whether it's Words with Friends, video games, sudoku or crosswords, something usually grabs us. Of course we would all probably put Squidoo'ing first, so let's make that a given and tell me your next top choice. If it's not listed here, please let me know in the comments.
Memorizing is another good exercise to improve brain cell connections. Start with something easy, then build up (like a Bible verse to a whole chapter). You can create poems or songs to help you with it.
Even card games seem to affect the brain differently, stimulating the memory. Needing to remember the cards played, the count, the rules even, involves the memory as well as problem solving and multi-tasking.
Another suggestion is to look for the who-what-where-when-why in your day. See it and remember it visually, or write it down. This works on memory, but also builds the multi-tasking part of your brain as you look at something from every angle. Each idea will put the brain to work.
Alabama - Montgomery / Alaska - Juneau / Arizona - Phoenix / Arkansas - Little Rock / California - Sacramento / Colorado - Denver / Connecticut - Hartford / Delaware - Dover / Florida - Tallahassee / Georgia - Atlanta / Hawaii - Honolulu / Idaho - Boise / Illinois - Springfield / Indiana - Indianapolis / Iowa - Des Moines / Kansas - Topeka / Kentucky - Frankfort / Louisiana - Baton Rouge / Maine - Augusta / Maryland - Annapolis / Massachusetts - Boston / Michigan - Lansing / Minnesota - St. Paul / Mississippi - Jackson / Missouri - Jefferson City / Montana - Helena
Nebraska - Lincoln / Nevada - Carson City / New Hampshire - Concord / New Jersey - Trenton / New Mexico - Santa Fe / New York - Albany / North Carolina - Raleigh / North Dakota - Bismarck / Ohio - Columbus / Oklahoma - Oklahoma City / Oregon - Salem / Pennsylvania - Harrisburg / Rhode Island - Providence / South Carolina - Columbia / South Dakota - Pierre / Tennessee - Nashville / Texas - Austin / Utah - Salt Lake City / Vermont - Montpelier / Virginia - Richmond / Washington - Olympia / West Virginia - Charleston / Wisconsin - Madison / Wyoming - Cheyenne
it is common with aging to lose some of our ability to do several things at a time. I've noticed that myself lately.
Recent studies show that some video games played regularly can have a remarkable affect on that ability. One test showed an improvement that cut that loss by two thirds. Since usually the game involves moving forward in some way, while dealing with things coming at you from different directions, you brain must work in different ways while engrossed in the video.
Some games improve memory, some improve the ability to do several tasks at once, some strength and help maintain brain health. The key is to keep your brain active and learning and doing.
That is one of the reason learning something or taking a class is stressed as brain exercise. The newer the task and the greater the challenge in it, the more it does for your brain. So don't be afraid to learn a new language or a musical instrument. It may be better for you than you realize.
Image courtesy of ryantron at Flickr