The idea that brainpower decreases over time is a myth. The brain remains fertile through old age.
Learning new skills and using your memory not only makes your brain more fertile but also improves overall cognitive wellbeing and may even prevent the onset of dementia.
Neuroscientists use the term “neuroplasticity” to refer to the brain’s adaptability. Whereas in the recent past, the commonly held view was that the brain becomes more plastic over time—that people become more rigid in their thinking, that their thought patterns become more entrenched—neuroscientists are discovering that, on the contrary, the brain remains a flexible muscle all through life.
That means that, contrary to popular belief, ageing people can change their thought patterns, take in and process lots of new information, and change the way they see the world.
Here are three ways to flex your brain in your older years.
#1 Learn a New Language
Learning a new language is a tried and true way to flex your brain and boost your brainpower in your older years.
Yes, it is true that children are better at learning new languages—but only slightly —and it’s possible that children are slightly better at learning new languages only because they have more opportunities and resources and are not afraid of making mistakes.
That is to say that, contrary to popular belief, children are not better at learning languages because they possess an innate capacity reserved for the young. With the right opportunities and resources, and without the fear of making mistakes, older people may be able to learn new languages as well as children do.
(However, older people do have more difficulty with accents.)
If you’re in your older years, try visiting a language class at your local college, community centre, or upscale retirement community to see for yourself how surprisingly easy language acquisition can be.
Ageing people who learn a new language have better memories and overall cognitive health than those who don’t. More, learning a new language may reduce the likelihood of developing different kinds of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s.
#2 Nurture Your Memory
Unfortunately, because people tend to believe that memory declines with age, ageing people tend not to trust their memories as much as younger people do.
However, in reality, memory doesn’t necessarily decline with age, especially when people make a habit of nurturing it.
You can nurture your memory by maintaining a healthy sleep schedule, eating less added sugar, taking fish oil supplements, exercising, avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol, meditating, and getting enough vitamin D.
Also, eat anti-inflammatory foods rather than foods that cause inflammation.
Foods that cause inflammation include fried foods, fast food, refined carbohydrates (e.g. white rice and pasta), soda, and foods that contain trans-fat.
Anti-inflammatory foods include berries, mushrooms, broccoli, extra virgin olive oil, peppers, green tea, cherries, and dark chocolate.
#3 Take Up a Hobby
Ageing people can flex their brains and boost their brainpower by taking up a new hobby.
If you’re interested in doing so, go with what you’re genuinely interested in, rather than what you think you should be interested in.
If you wish you wanted to play a musical instrument but have no real desire to, that’s fine. Instead, choose the hobby you’re genuinely interested in, even if you’re embarrassed by it.
Bottom Line
The idea that brainpower declines over time are a myth. On the contrary, the brain is a wonderfully flexible muscle that you can exercise well into old age.
Learning a new language, nurturing your memory, and taking up a new hobby are three fantastic ways to boost brainpower.
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