What does brain plasticity have to do with healthy aging?
Decreased brain plasticity functions are tied to lower cognitive ability as it relates to aging. But there's good news!
Environmental enrichment can improve cognitive aging.
Studies have shown that brain plasticity is sensitive to changes in environment, and certain activities can help reduce the effects of cognitive decline. You may be wondering...
What's environmental enrichment?
Researchers have found many activities can help improve cognitive function as we age. These activities can also improve our overall mental wellbeing. Proven activities include reading, engagement in social or professional clubs, continuing education, travel, tennis, walking and gardening.
Sources:
Use It or Lose It: Environmental Enrichment as Means to Promote Successful Cognitive Aging, Frick & Benoit, The Scientific World Journal, 2010
Aging, plasticity and environmental enrichment: Structural changes and neurotransmitter dynamics in several areas of the brain, Mora, Segoia & del Arco, Brain Research Reviews, 2007
Environmental Enrichment: Aging and Memory, Patel, The Journal of Biology and Medicine, Patel, 2012
Photo source: Unsplash, Juliane Liebermann
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