Did you know that your brain weighs only 2-4 pounds, yet gets 25% of the blood from every hearbeat? Think about that. That's a lot of blood for such a small organ.
Men's and women's brains are different, thanks to the influence of prenatal testosterone. Women use more of the right side of their brains than men. Both use the left side, home of problem solving.
Maybe you've heard that once you reach a certain age (3, 5, 20) your brain stops growing and all you do is lose brain cells. More recent research indicates that that just isn't so. The brain keeps making new brain cells. Not only that, but it keeps changing. That's right, you can influence your brain RIGHT NOW. How? I'm glad you asked. First, some background:
Your brain's cortex -- that wrinkly part you think of when you hear the word "brain" -- is where you take care of learning, communicating, reading, being you, and other active stuff.
Underneath the cortex is the subcortex, which takes care of routine things. Do something enough times, and it leaves the cortex for the subcortex. That's why you thought about everything when you were learning to drive and then, one day, left for the store, wound up at work, and couldn't remember the trip. Drive to a meeting in a new city, though, and suddenly you're paying attention, concentrating, and using the cortex.
When you stimulate the cortex, you increase dendrites. Why is that improtant? Think of dendrites as plants and Alzheimer's Disease and dementia as a Weed Whacker. The more dendrites you have, the longer it takes for the "Weed Whacker" to make a noticeable difference.
So, how can you stimulate those cells and grow dendrites? Through a healthy brain lifestyle. There are five "domains" of Dr. Nussbaum's Brain Health Lifestyle (r). They are:
Socialization: join groups and social organizations, develop hobbies, maintain a sense of purpose (work, volunteer, etc.), maintain and build friendships and family networks, ask about loneliness (most lonely people don't tell people). Lonliness increases the risk for dementia.
Be active: walk 7,000-12,000 steps daily, walk six miles per week (walking reduces the risk of dementia), dance, garden, knit, use both sides of your body.
Mental stimulation: learn another language, learn sign language (increases IQ), play board games, travel, play a musical instrument.
Spirituality: learn to meditate, try Yoga or Tai Chi, reserve 30 minutes each day just for yourself, pray daily, regularly attend a formal place of worship.
Nutrition: eat 80% or what you intend to eat each meal (you don't have to clean your plate!), eat one meal each day with family or friends, eat 8 ounces of fish weekly, increase your intake of antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids, go to a museum or cultural event.
You can get a brain fitness workout at Fitbrains www.Fitbrains.com (Dr. Nussbaum is the Chief Scientific Officer).
