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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – It’s that time of year again. As we pen our back-to-school shopping list we jot down the basics: books, pencils, paper, binders. But what do we do to get our brain ready for the upcoming school year? Whether you’re heading off to school or not, it’s important to exercise your brain to keep it healthy and ready to learn and retain the information that we’re bombarded with every day.
There are a number of tasks you can do each day to keep your brain going strong. And it doesn’t require any shopping for a special video, game or gadget. Simply put: it’s all about you and your routine.
Looking ahead is important, too. In fact, recent research indicates that simple leisure activities like reading books, playing computer games, interacting on social network sites or doing crafts can help keep your mind sharp as you age. It also leads to a decrease in developing memory loss. Studies also stress not to spend too much time in front of the tube because TV viewing tends to put the brain on autopilot and does not stretch our memory and thinking.
Just because we age doesn’t mean we cannot create new brain cells or be productive. Some examples of famous people doing their best work late in life include: Michelangelo, who worked on the Saint Peter’s Basilica from age 72 to his death at 88; Stanley Kunitz, who won a National Book Award at age 90; Mary Baker Eddy, who founded the Christian Science Monitor at age 87; and Dr. Seuss, who wrote creative children’s books into his 80s.
It is a proven fact that mental stimulation improves brain function and protects against cognitive decline. So does physical exercise. I’ve put together some tips to help you use new brain pathway circuits and maintain old ones. Consider the following:
• Learn a new skill: Whether it’s cooking a new recipe, dusting off that old guitar, or signing up for a sewing class or the boot camp you’ve been thinking about, find a way to make it work in your schedule.
• Read: Immerse yourself in a variety of materials and subjects on a regular basis. The library really is an underutilized place. And it’s free.
• Stay connected: Make it a priority to meet up with friends or family members on a regular basis. Find a local group to get involved in, or do volunteer work – even if it’s just once a month.
• Play: Pull out the deck of cards, find a good crossword puzzle or call a friend over for a Scrabble match.
• Eat right: Foods high in antioxidants such as blueberries, dark leafy greens, plums, pecans, walnuts, potatoes, black beans and tomatoes all have been proven to keep your brain in check by preventing cholesterol from lining your arteries and slowing blood flow to the brain.
Mark Minelli is an expert in community health and a professor of health sciences in The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions at Central Michigan University.
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