Description

This 4-page article, written by Alvaro Fernandez, is published in the July/ August 2009 issue of The Journal of Active Aging. All rights reserved (copyright information at bottom of this description).

An excerpt:

"By now you have probably heard about
brain plasticity, the lifelong capacity of
the brain to change and rewire itself in
response to the stimulation of learning
and experience. The latest scientific
research shows that specific lifestyles and
actions can improve the health and level
of functioning of our brains, no matter
our age.

Of particular importance to maintaining
cognitive functioning through life are the
hippocampus (deep inside the brain, part
of what is called the limbic system),
which plays a role in learning and memory;
and the frontal lobes (behind your
forehead), which are key to maintaining
decision-making and autonomy. Is there
a way to physically protect these parts of
the aging brain? Yes. But the right answer
is far from “do one more crossword puzzle”
or “do more X” (whatever X is). The
key is to add significantly different activities
to ensure a flow of novelty, variety
and challenge, combining physical and
mental exercise while not ignoring factors
such as stress management and balanced
nutrition.

We need, in other words, to retool our
understanding and practice of “Use it or
lose it.” We must focus on the importance
of getting out of our physical and
mental routines and activities to get the
benefits of real exercise—physical and
mental."

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