3 Ways to Boost Brainpower in Your Older Years

Published on: 24 December 2021 Last Updated on: 05 February 2025
Boost Brainpower

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

#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

#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.

Read Also:

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

motivated

Here Are 10 Tips On How To Get Motivated For Work, School, or Life

They say it is all in your head. whether you are trying to lose weight, get a new job or otherwise improve yourself. Often your biggest obstacles are psychological. It's hard to get and stay motivated, especially if you have gotten knocked off track a few times. Many of us start feeling a decline in confidence and an increase in hopelessness when we fail to achieve our goals over and over again. There are many ways to stay motivated both long-term and immediately when you feel that drive start to ebb. If you are looking on how to get motivated, try some or all of these ideas to kick start your ambition and get you back on the road to success. Here are ten ideas for improving your motivation. 1. Set a Goal: Sometimes you need to be clear and specific in articulating your objective in order to achieve it. Instead of just hoping to "lose weight," give yourself a specific target: "this year I will lose 20 pounds." You might write it out in an inspiring sign to paste on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror, to remind yourself every day to stay focused. 2. Lay Out Achievable Steps: Not only must you define what you are going for, you need to layout steps that will get you there. If your goal is to open another office, you will want to set out a budget and timeline to help you work towards that result. Many goals are the accumulation of actions, so you need to be clear what steps you need to take along the way. Before you can improve your stamina, you need to join a gym or engage a personal trainer. Before you can meet the man of your dreams, you need to join a dating app in order to start meeting people. 3. Check in with a Mentor or Friend: Another important component to getting motivated is to be accountable.  It's less easy to slack off when you have to report your progress to someone else. By setting professional goals with a mentor or supervisor,  you give yourself the motivation to report your progress back to them.  If you think people are expecting something of you, you are more likely to work harder to please them and get the job done. You may also receive the added bonus of feedback: others can buck you up when you are feeling discouraged, and give you alternate ideas to try when your strategy is not going well. 4. Ingest Some Caffeine: Don't overlook the physical factors involved with motivation. It is hard to keep going if you are hungry, tired or depleted. Many people need a cup of coffee to get their engines revved in the morning. Caffeine can actually improve memory, productivity, and performance. If you are looking for a quick fix to your motivational blues, a cup of joe or a bite of chocolate may perk you up to get your short term goals accomplished. 5. Take a Walk: To change your mind you often need to move a muscle. If you are in a rut,  change your perspective by literally getting out of your house or office and going for a walk. Many cultures extol nature as a way of cleaning out the mind and reinvigorating the body. The Japanese call this practice forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku. Being in nature can reduce stress and help you regain focus and energy. 7. Eat Something Healthy: Lack of motivation may be a sign that you are physically run-down, or you are failing to keep your mind and body properly fueled.  By incorporating healthy nutritional habits into your daily routine, you will be better able to face the ups and downs of work and life and stay more focused on achieving your goals. You may need to examine what you are eating as well. Maybe eating too much dairy or gluten is sapping your energy. As our bodies get older, we may no longer be able to process certain foods the way we used to. By cleaning up your diet to include fewer toxins and more fruits and vegetables, you are likely to experience higher energy levels. 8. Try a Nutritional Supplement: Some people need a boost to keep their bodies functioning at maximum capacity. Many take nutritional supplements to increase their memory function, energy and wellbeing. This website shows the kinds of products available called nootropics, which are intended to assist with a mental performance by supporting creativity, focus, intelligence, and motivation. Some ingredients used to enhance brain function include bacopa Monnier, an ancient herb used in Ayurvedic medicine to enhance information processing and reduce reaction times;  Rhodiola Rosea, an herb that helps your body handle stress more effectively, ginseng root, which reduces fatigue and helps with high-level problem solving; and ginkgo Biloba, which improves memory and reduces stress-related high blood pressure. 9. Keep Going: Sometimes you may not be as inspired as other times. Sometimes a deadline will not wait and you just have to rally. Perfection can be the enemy of the good. That means: don't let your own perfectionism stand in the way of just getting your task accomplished. You may not achieve your objective with the highest marks and the best results that you might have liked, but often getting something done is an achievement in and of itself. Maybe tomorrow you will come back with renewed insight and innovative ideas. By pushing yourself, you will eventually get to where you want to go. You may not get As all the time, but by refusing to give up you will eventually persevere and triumph. 10. Take a Break: A lack of motivation may indicate a deeper issue. Maybe you are no longer inspired by your line of work. Maybe you need to try an alternative route to your ultimate destination. When scientists tackle problems, sometimes they have to give up and come back to the problem at a later time. Sometimes only time and persistence can give you the perspective you need to either solve the challenge or move on. You may realize that you really want to focus on a different goal. You may decide that your energy should be channeled in a different direction. How to Get Motivated- Physically and Mentally: Searching for how to get motivated may lead you to question the goals towards which you are directing that energy. You may ultimately find in yourself the reasons why you are struggling to achieve something and new strategies for attaining that mission. On the other hand, you may also discover that you would prefer to focus on that motivation elsewhere. For more tips on improving your physical and mental fitness, check out our blog. Read Also: How Interviews With Industry Titans Motivate And Elevate Company Teams 6 Ways To Promote Healthy Brain

READ MOREDetails
Wedding Aisle

A Walk To Remember: Wedding Aisles You Won’t Forget

Considered as one of the highlights of any wedding, the bride’s walk in the aisle is a cherished moment that everybody is looking forward to. It is the part of the ceremony where all eyes will be on you to adore your dress, your makeup, your hair, and even your bouquet. To make the moment even more enchanting, the aisle will serve as your frame and backdrop for the magical scene that is unfolding in front of their eyes. Walking in the aisle only happens once that’s why to Make Happy Memories, a wedding planner in Athens, encourage couples to be specific with the visuals and the vibe of their walkway. With that being said, decorating your aisle according to your objectives is certainly one of the wedding planning components that you shouldn’t take for granted. When it comes to aisle design, it is significant to ensure that the details and elements are aligned to your event’s theme. If you’re planning your destination wedding in Greece, you should clearly and precisely coordinate your ideas to your wedding planner to make your visions even more achievable. Make Happy Memories, a great wedding planner in Athens, offering wedding packages in Greece, suggests that couples should look for ideas on the web and utilize some visual documents (like images) of what they want. This is especially important if you’re planning a destination elopement and all your transactions are online. Achieving your dream wedding is possible as long as you’re specific with every detail such as those that are related to your wedding aisle. To make it easier for you, we have gathered some wedding aisle decoration ideas for a walk that you’ll remember forever. Show these to your planner, okay? 1. Outdoor Rustic: Perfect for countryside-style weddings, this aisle is undoubtedly a sight to behold. The trunks and foliage that are enlacing the aisle highlighted the greeneries that are surrounding this outdoor ceremony. Your guests and your loved ones will surely be in awe when you walk through this captivating pathway. 2. Glowing and Magical: Having an evening or midnight ceremony? Use it as a perfect excuse to splurge on string lights and adorable candle sets! These hanging cierges and caged bougies leave a fairytale atmosphere that is totally Instagram-worthy. Walk down the aisle feeling like you’re surrounded by will o’ wisps by incorporating this candle-lit walkway in your wedding day. 3. Chic and minimalist: Blending well with the neutral tones of this indoor setting, the white and pink bouquet of roses added a pop of colors and a gorgeous touch to this wonderful aisle. Finishing the look, the carpet of petals set a romantic mood to the whole pathway setup. 4. Fresh Textiles: Who says that you can’t hang huge textiles in your ceremony’s main corridor? These soft-looking white chiffons provide a dreamy setup which also acts as a quixotic backdrop for your images. Moreover, the yellow and purple bouquets of flowers add some right amount of colors that bring life to the whole arrangement. And oh, let’s not forget those chandeliers that bring an extra oomph of elegance. 5. Ocean Vibe: If you decided to tie the knot on a beach, you might want to consider incorporating the colors of the sea in your wedding ceremony. Adding a nautical touch to this neutral walkway, the plain tulle and white blue bouquets highlighted the colors of the ocean backdrop that surrounds the area. 6. Flower Cages: This is yet another aisle inspiration that you can incorporate for your beach wedding. Mainly composed of whites, this romantic walkway is a great idea that minimalist couples will like. With the hanging caged flowers and the cream sand as your natural carpet, what more could you ask for? Read Also: Ethnic Wedding Attire: 3 Tips to Wear The Traditional Dhoti-Style Maharashtrian Saree Wedding Photo Album: How To Calculate The Cost? Popular Styles For Punjabi Salwar Suits At Weddings

READ MOREDetails
beard transplant

7 Things to Know If You’re Considering a Beard Transplant

In the 21 century, men give attention to their look not less than ladies. Or sometimes — even more. The world of fashion calls the shots, and a lot of men tend to go along with them. Last seasons a beard and light stubble — macho image symbols — have been on a trend. And those gentlemen who can't sprout a beard because of natural disposition finally have a solution — a beard transplant. Let's learn more about this procedure. 7 Things to Know If You're Considering a Beard Transplant 1. What is that? A beard transplant is a procedure of implanting the patient's hair from one part of the body to the beard zone for making it lush and dense according to the man's wishes. Typically, the hair covering of the bald area is provided in several steps: A patient discusses the desired shape of the beard with a doctor. The transplant is made under local anesthesia. A hair transplant specialist analyzes the donor area (typically, it's the back of the head or any other hairy part of the body). The procedure is comfortable and painless. A hair transplant specialist extracts the required amount of grafts from the discussed donor one. A specialist (or hair technician) divides the graft into separate hair follicles with microsurgical tools. A usual graft contains 1-3 hairs. An expert makes channels in the donor zone, considering the patient's hair growth. Separated hair follicles are transplanted to prepared channels. 2. How many grafts? The circle beard requires between 1,200-1,500 grafts. Thу full beard takes around 3,000 grafts. 3. How much is a beard transplant? A beard transplant costs as much as a hair one. And men are ready to pay. According to the Telegraph, men are spending up to $17,790 for a beard transplant. However, it can't cost that much if you know where to look for. Prices vary from country to country. And it's entirely possible to get a high-quality beard transplant starting from $1,750 in Turkey. How much does a beard transplant cost you? — Only a hair transplant expert can tell you after consultation or at least study your photos. 4. Where to get a beard of your dream? Bookimed.com, a medical centers aggregator website, gives the following clinics to get a beard transplant: Estetik International (Turkey) Istanbul Aesthetics (Turkey) San-Med Hair Transplant Center (Poland) Turowski Clinic (Poland) Bangkok Hospital Pattaya (Thailand) VJs Cosmetic Surgery (India). ! Keep in mind that your specialist must have a certificate and experience in making the transplant. Ask for doctor's CV, check before-after photos, and read patient reviews. 5. Your beard is your health The beard is good for your health! It serves as an excellent filter that does not allow dust and pollen from flowering plants to reach you. Some men believe a thick and long beard keeps warm and protects them from colds. 6. Your new beard will need care! In 20 days, the transplanted follicles start to fall out. It's a natural process — the fallen hairs will begin to regrow. Follow your specialist's advice to save the result and healthy look of your new facial hair. Trichologists and barbers recommend taking care of your beard with oil, butter, or wax. Beard oil reduces skin irritation, especially when you are on your way of growing a beard. A beard wax softens the hair and adds volume to the beard. It dissolves in water and is easily washed off. Pay attention to your nutrition, water balance, and lifestyle. 7. Women can't resist In 2013 and 2016, American scientists conducted research which concluded that women prefer men with a beard rather clean-shaved ones. For females asked, the beard is the symbol of manhood, social maturity, status, and dominance. Read Also: Growing A Beard: How To Grow A Beard And Maintain It Reasons Why Bearded Men Look Attractive

READ MOREDetails