These three factors maintain brain performance – healing practice

How to keep the brain healthy for a long time?

in the Brain Just like in the rest of the body, changes occur during aging which affect performance. However, three factors can contribute significantly to keeping the brain healthy and efficient in old age.

A new research project involving experts from the University of Iceland aimed to identify factors important for maintaining the basic structures of brain function – i.e. gray and white matter – investigate. The results were published in the journal “brain science“published.

The brain deteriorates with age

During the The brain pays to grow old gradually on Efficiency a. This can be seen, for example, in the fact that appointments are often forgotten, notes have to be taken as a reminder or conversations can no longer be effortlessly followed, the team explains. .

brain training

However, it is possible to train the brain to remain efficient for longer. “The keys to our nervous system are gray matter and white matter‘ reports the author of the study Professor Hermundur Sigmundsson in a Press release the norwegian university of science and technology (NTNU).

Evaluation of a large body of research has shown that there are ways to maintain the performance of gray matter and white matter.

According to the researchers, three factors stand out in particular. These are:

• physical movement,
• social interaction with other people,
• pursue new interests.

Exercise counteracts brain aging

If you don’t exercise a lot, your body gets sluggish, and so does your brain, the team said. “An active lifestyle contributes to the development of the central nervous system and counteracts brain aging“, has explained Professor Sigmundson.

It is therefore also important not to spend too much time with seated activities spend. However, many people are practically forced to sit down when working in the office, for example. Affected persons should therefore use at least part of the rest of the day to Physically active be.

Social interactions with other people

There are actually people who don’t mind spending most of their lives alone or only coming into contact with a few people. For the vast majority of people though social contacts quite very important.

“Relationships and interactions with other people contribute to a number of complex biological factors that may prevent brain slowdown“, has explained Professor Sigmundson.

Thus, time spent with other people supports, for example, through conversations and physical contact the maintain healthy brain functions.

passion for novelties

Many people find it difficult to learn new things and activities, especially as they get older. A strong interest in learning new things has a beneficial effect on the brain. Experts report that the diversity of stimuli is a key factor for the preservation of brain structures represent.

“Passion, that is, a strong interest in something, can be the decisive and driving factor that pushes us to learn new things. Over time, this affects the development and maintenance of our neural networks“, has explained Professor Sigmundson.

You are never too old to learn new things

The doctor always recommends, even in old age stay curious. You are never too old to learn something new. For example, one can still learn a new musical instrument in old age, which in turn has a beneficial effect on the brain.

Brain health closely linked to lifestyle

In summary, training the body and brain is necessary to minimize progressive decline. The three factors mentioned above can not only help maintain a good quality of life contribute, they also promote a healthy aging.

“Brain development is closely related to lifestyle. Exercise, relationships and passion help develop and maintain our basic brain structures as we age“, to sum up Professor Sigmundson. (as)