Research has shown that quitting smoking and controlling blood pressure can delay or even prevent cognitive decline.
Also in one study (called the Synapse Project), a group of participants were asked to try a new activity with which they had little experience. This is digital photography or sewing. Another group was given activity options that required little active learning. For example, themed activities related to traveling or cooking, solving puzzles, listening to music, watching movies. Both groups spent 15 hours a week together for 14 weeks.
People assigned to new, challenging activities were found to experience significant gains in memory, processing speed, and reasoning ability compared to less mentally challenging activities.
Brain scans also showed increased neural efficiency in those in the study who engaged in more challenging activities. So their brains didn’t have to work as hard to solve problems or remember information.
They also found that the more time the participants spent on their projects, the more their brain abilities improved and the better their memory was after 14 weeks. Moreover, there was no difference in productivity between people doing something alone or with others.
To improve brain function in general, you need to challenge yourself. This happens naturally when you try something new. Learning new things, which is often difficult and sometimes frustrating, requires activity in the frontal lobe (which controls thinking and judgment) and the parietal lobe (which processes attention and integrates various sensory signals).
Games promoted as brain training may not be the best solution. They can improve your cognitive abilities if you play a difficult game like Tetris, Rise of Nations. Studies have even shown that playing Super Mario 64 can increase brain capacity in the hippocampus (memory center).
The key when choosing a game to train your brain is difficulty. If you like words, try a number-based game, if you like math, try word matching games or solve word puzzles. Choosing a task that makes you uncomfortable gives you the best chance of maintaining and improving your cognition. When you feel like it’s getting easier, it’s time to change the task or make it harder.
News materials cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
