by Meredith Troy
8. July 2009 01:26
The more we learn about aging, the more we know that keeping the brain active is an integral part of this process. Brain researchers have learned that our brains are just as capable of learning in the second half of life as in the first. In fact, a team of Princeton University psychologists found that adults continue to grow new brain cells throughout life. These late-generated cells may allow older people to bolster their learning and memory capabilities, or even stop declines. It’s true that when we think of fitness, we often don’t think of the brain — but brain fitness is important. Years of aging studies prove that if we keep our minds alert and engage in challenging brain activities, we have a greater chance of remaining more independent for a longer period of time.
What does this mean as we grow older? Choosing to do some brain activities several times a week can keep our minds sharp and enable us to function at a higher level. Typically, we get in a pattern and do the same activities over and over. While regularity is important, we should attempt to try several new activities and expand our abilities. It’s never too late!
Flex your mental muscle today with a local crossword, word scramble or even simple math calculations. It’s never too late to train your brain. Who knows…you may even enjoy it.
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