According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, “Reading English decreases your risk of Alzheimer’s by 33%”. This is especially true if English is your second language.
It has long been known that mental challenges and keeping intellectually active are great ways to preserve the old grey matter for longer. Learning a new language, doing crosswords and puzzles, reading and studying are all excellent ways to exercise the brain.
However, you also need physical exercise. So, once in a while, put down the book and the Sudoku and go for a walk. Walking has been clinically proven to enhance brain power. If you are feeling mentally fatigued, got writer’s block or feel plain fed up, put on your walking shoes. Travel is another excellent way to stimulate your brain, so you have the perfect reason (or excuse) book that holiday or trip abroad and experience different cultures (as long as you don’t end up killing off a few brain cells by bungee jumping or binge drinking…).
Here’s a brain exercise you can do right now
This is an exercise that can strengthen neural (brain cell) connections and even create new ones:
Switch the hand you are using to control the computer mouse. Use the hand you normally do NOT use.
What do you notice? Is it harder to be precise and accurate with your motions? Do you feel like you did when you were first learning to tie your shoelaces? If so, that’s normal – it’s simply because your brain is learning a new skill.
You can try other neural building and strengthening exercises from everyday movements - use your opposite hand to brush your teeth, dial the phone or operate the TV remote control etc. However, this isn’t advised for applying mascara!
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