Ever Heard Of Neuroplasticity?
By Dr. Stella C DO
Board Certified Internal Medicine Hospitalist, San Francisco
Reading Time:
2 minutes
Scientists once thought that we were stuck with the brain we were born with. Fortunately, that’s no longer true. Ever heard of neuroplasticity?
Our brain is a muscle and it requires daily exercise. With little training, we can increase our brain capacity
How can we do that?
- Exercise – Besides reducing the risk of stroke, heart attacks and diabetes, aerobic exercise for 30 minutes a day reduces brain cell loss
- Challenge your Mind – Mentally stimulating activities may reverse cognitive decline. Read, write, put together a jigsaw puzzle, work on crosswords…it all counts
- Listen to Music – A study in the journal Neuron showed that listening to music may sharpen the brain’s ability to anticipate events and stay focused. Looking at an MRI of people’s brain while they were listening to symphony music showed areas of the brain involved with paying attention, making predictions and accessing memories, were engaged
- Nurture your Relationships – Social interaction engaged the areas of the brain involved in memory and attention, the same mental processes that are used in many cognitive tasks. They may also help prevent dementia. Do a dance class, which allows you to spend time with pals, get moving and challenge your brain
- Nourish your Brain – Regularly eating vibrantly-hued fruits and vegetables, with high levels of disease-fighting antioxidants, help counteract disease-causing free radicals throughout the body, including the brain
- Drink in Moderation – At least five studies have linked low-dose alcohol consumption, one drink a day fro women, two for men, with a reduced risk of dementia. Note that heavy alcohol use have been linked to an increase risk of dementia among other health concerns
- Avoid Smoking – Smoking may affect your body’s delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. It may even speed up the brain’s natural aging process. Smoking may from plaques that can contribute to dementia
- Protect your Head – Serious head injury may be linked to Alzheimer’s diseases, especially when trauma occurs repeatedly or involves loss of consciousness. Wear seat bells and helmets
Are you boosting your brain health today?
LAMSA’s Note: Thank you Dr Stella for your collaboration.
