The key to maintaining brain health

Release time:

2023-03-13

Your brain is amazing. Roughly 100 billion nerve cells work together to keep your mind sharp and agile.

Your brain is truly remarkable. Roughly 100 billion nerve cells work together to keep your mind sharp and agile.

Norwegian University of Science and Technology, September 22.

But just like other parts of the body, your brain may become less active as you get a bit older. Perhaps you find yourself having to write things down, or you forget appointments, or you can’t stay focused enough to follow conversations or the rhythm on TV. Fortunately, though, the brain is also capable of being trained. “The key components of our nervous system are gray matter and white matter,” says Hermundur Sigmundsson, a professor in the Department of Psychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

Broadly speaking, gray matter consists of nerve cells (or neurons) and dendrites, while white matter provides connections between cells—namely, myelinated axons—and determines the speed and distribution of signal transmission. A recent article published in the journal Brain Sciences brings together much of what we’ve learned from previous research on brain health. In their theoretical perspective paper, the researchers went to great lengths and provided 101 references on how to maintain the integrity of both our gray matter and white matter.

Three factors contribute to good brain health.

“Sigmundsson says: ‘If you want your brain to be in top condition, three factors are crucial.’ These factors are: physical exercise, social interaction, and having strong interests (learning new things and not shying away from new challenges).”

1. Exercise

This may be the greatest challenge many of us face. If you’re always sitting, your body will become lazy—and the same goes for your brain. Sigmundsson and his colleagues say, “An active lifestyle helps develop the central nervous system and counteracts brain aging.” So it’s crucial not to get stuck in a chair. It takes effort, but there’s no other way around it. If you have a job that requires prolonged sitting, or if you’re at school—or even when you’ve finished work—make sure to activate yourself, both physically and mentally.

2. Relationship

Some of us are happiest when we’re alone or with just a few close people. We know that “Hell is other people”—a phrase famously coined by the writer and philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, though Sartre’s original intent may have been more nuanced. Still, in this regard, you’ll need to be brave enough to push yourself. As Sigmundsson puts it, “Relationships with others—and interactions with them—help trigger a cascade of complex biological factors in the brain, factors that can prevent cognitive decline.” Being with others—whether through conversation or physical touch—can support healthy brain function.

3. Passion

The last point might have something to do with your personality, but if you’ve made it this far, chances are you already have the necessary foundation—and you might even be willing to learn.

“Passion—or a strong interest in something—may be the decisive driving force behind our motivation to learn new things. Over time, this can influence the development and maintenance of our neural networks,” Sigmundsson said.

Stay curious. Don’t give up—just let things unfold naturally. It’s never too late to do something you’ve never done before. Maybe now is the perfect time to learn a new musical instrument.

Use it or lose it.

Sigmundsson collaborated with Benjamin H. Dybendal, a graduate student at the University of Stavanger, and Associate Professor Simone Grassini to complete this comprehensive paper.

Therefore, their research paints a strikingly similar picture of the brain and the body. You must exercise your brain if you want to prevent it from declining. As the saying goes, “Use it or lose it.”

“Brain development is closely linked to lifestyle. As we age, physical exercise, interpersonal relationships, and passions all contribute to the development and maintenance of our brain’s fundamental structure,” Sigmundsson said.

Therefore, these three factors provide some key elements for maintaining a good quality of life—and we hope they’ll also help you age gracefully.

Founded in 1760, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology

References

Source: Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Keys to Keeping Your Brain Healthy

Reference:

Sigmundsson, H.; Dybendal, B.H.; Grassini, S. Motion, Relation, and Passion in Brain Physiological and Cognitive Aging. Brain Sci. 2022, 12, 1122. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12091122

Source: Alzheimer's Disease Public Account

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