by Richard
All of you John Travolta fans (are there really such things in the wild?), sorry. Ditto for the Robin Williams fans. This is not about the new movie starring both of them. Although, now that I think about it, this might be a good way to bring people here to read some stuff. The old bait and switch. But that’s really off topic. No, I’m talking about cliché busting. The fact that you can teach an old dog some new tricks.
For years, people assumed that as grandpa dudes aged, their brains withered and disappeared. Usually a couple of years before the body did the same. It was inevitable. Well, scientists think now it’s not. (Thank goodness) It’s not inevitable if you do something about it. (Oh, crap. More work.)
This all has to do with brain plasticity, that is, the ability of the actual physical brain to form new connections, for different sections of the brain to bulk up with the acquisition of new skill sets. It’s the good news.
it reflects a change in our physical brains: new “wires” (neural pathways) that give instructions to our bodies on how to perform the step. Each time we forget someone’s name, it also reflects brain change— “wires” that once connected to the memory have been degraded, or even severed. As these examples show, changes in the brain can result in improved skills (a new dance step) or a weakening of skills (a forgotten name).
So, we want the good type of plasticity and we want to avoid the bad type like a. . . a. . . uh. . . a something bad. Sorry, word was on the tip of my tongue. I’ll get it later.
The best way to keep your brain in good working order is to, as the saying goes, use it so you don’t lose it. Oddly enough, it turns out that exercising our bodies will also help us exercise our minds.
A 2002 study by Carl Cotman and Nicole Bertchtold showed that exercising is one of the best ways to enhance brain health and plasticity. This study concluded that physical exercise triggers production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is directly related to the brain’s ability to change, grow and adapt. Running, walking, biking or playing any sport are all good ways to get the exercise your brain needs for plasticity.
If you’re going to try and use just the brain and leave your sagging, atrophied muscles as along as possible, there are ways. Brain exercises should teach you something new, be challenging and progressive (build off what came before). They also should be novel or surprising.
So don’t let your brain look like a jack-o-lantern two weeks after Halloween, following a long stint of rain, slugs and rapidly advancing white fungus. Seriously. That is not a good picture.
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