Build Up Your Brain Reserves
You've probably read or watched a documentary about the aging brain and the damaging physical effects of Alzheimer's disease. New research however, is revealing that the brains of sharp minded old people who died had abnormalities much like those of Alzheimer's patients. The consensus that is forming: cognitive reserves. Some people have developed, and maintained, extra neurons and connections between their axons and dendrites (click the image to enlarge the labels).
How can you increase your cognitive reserves? Just as with muscles, the answer seems to be: use it or lose it.
I mentioned this briefly in today's Gentle/Stretch class and suggested that in the new year, we all find something new to learn. As mentioned in Monday's article, we could start using the word yet more often in our self-talk. Think about those long-held beliefs containing the words "I don't" and finish the sentence with yet. I don't speak Spanish, yet. I don't play any musical instrument, yet. I don't do anything artistic, yet. I don't know the Sanskrit names of all those yoga poses, yet. Choose something and resolve to learn it. Build up those reserves and hold on to your memory.
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