“The human brain has 100 billion neurons, each neuron connected to 10 thousand other neurons. Sitting on your shoulders is the most complicated object in the known universe.”
– Dr. Michio Kaku, Theoretical Physicist
“We now have a gold-standard study that tells us that there is something we can do to reduce our risk for dementia,” states Dr. Marilyn Albert, a professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her longitudinal study (over 20 years) found that, among her sample of 2,802 who exercised their brains for just 8-10 hours, plus a booster session, there were 25% fewer dementia diagnoses. So it makes sense, does it not, that if one commits to brain exercises just one hour a week, ongoingly, cognitive decline can be staved off. Training your brain can reverse the decline linked to aging. And of course, all of this is in addition to proper nutrition, sufficient sleep/rest, a good support system, and self-care, since brain transplants at this point are unachievable.
We can take care of our precious neurons, just like we do our eyes, our teeth, and other parts, with maintenance and regular training sessions. Our brains naturally begin to decline around age 30, but ever so slightly, and continue to do so incrementally. Just like our bodies will decline more rapidly without resistance training, cardio increase, and flexibility, our brains too can age unnecessarily. Yet they don’t have to!
Fortunately, it can be fun to train your brain. Any physical exercise you engage in will affect your brain, keeping it oxygenated and flexible. Anything creative will do the same: learning to play an instrument or a new language, crossword puzzles, Wordle, painting, crafts, reading (especially the classics), learning a new cuisine or sport, travel, and more.
There is also a fun, challenging set of brain exercises through Lumosity.com. They increase memory retrieval and retention, speed processing, flexibility, verbal and math abilities, and more. They track your progress and show your percentile according to your age bracket. Really cool to see your brain health improve.
You might prefer BrainHQ, whose CEO compares the aforementioned study to learning to ride a bike. It takes most of us about 10 hours to master riding a bike well enough. After that, you could not ride for 20 years and still be able to ride passably well when you do mount a bike again. The CEO states: “Even if you don’t practice for the next 20 years, you will still have a bike-riding brain.” This is called procedural memory, and it’s where you store your memory of how to drive a car, as well as other skills that have become automatic.
Understanding now that with just a modicum of brain training one can potentially offset dementia decades later, it begs the question: Is more better? The experts tell us that we do not have to become “mental marathoners.” Suggestions vary, but most feel one hour per week should be sufficient to protect our brains. Some train for a few months, take a break, and come back later. Those who have Alzheimer’s or dementia in their family history may want to factor in an hour or two per week to guard against that.
“I’ve got the brain of a 4-year-old. I bet he’s glad to be rid of it.” – Groucho Marx
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