Image via Wikipedia The progressive loss of myelin as we age is now thought to be an important component of brain aging (see here) – so the last thing you want is to take a drug that might interfere with the turnover and remyelination that occurs naturally (though at a reduced level as we age).…
Category: brain health
brain fitness, brain hack, brain health, enriched environment
My head is going to explode with all this info said the university student
by Ward • • 12 Comments
Now I am sure most readers have experienced the situation of the above student lament – when you are studying so long and hard that it feels like your head is going to explode – well maybe it is because you are growing so much new brain mass. Who knew – learning is good for your…
brain hack, brain health, enriched environment, exercise
Can you teach an old dog new tricks – or at least juggling – and increase gray matter density in the brain ?
by Ward • • 2 Comments
Image via Wikipedia You might, or might not, be an old dog – but we all want to be able keep on learning and ‘growing’. Yesterday, I wrote about a couple papers that demonstrated how learning to juggle increased gray matter density in a particular region of the brain (middle temporal area of the visual…
brain hack, brain health, enriched environment, exercise
Learn juggling to increase your gray matter – but don’t stop
by Ward • • 4 Comments
Image via Wikipedia Maybe being a court jester is not all bad – you get to play music, which increases your brain’s gray matter and improves your general cognitive ability, and you get to entertain the court with your juggling skills, which you will find out, if you read the rest of this post, is…
brain fitness, brain health, enriched environment
Increase your brain’s gray matter with musical training
by Ward • • 5 Comments
American Pie by Don McLean (a classic American anthem). “Bye, bye Miss American Pie…. When the Jester sang for the King and Queen, In a coat he borrowed from James Dean, In a voice that came from you and me. Oh, and while the King was looking down, The Jester stol’ his thorny crown….” The…
brain fitness, brain health, enriched environment
How playing the court jester can improve your brain
by Ward • • 1 Comment
The court jester’s (harlequin) job was to entertain the court with his/her music and juggling abilities. The court members laughed at the jester (maybe not with him), but possibly the jester had the last laugh since his various entertaining endeavors possibly promoted in his brain greater plasticity and health. All this week I will discuss…
brain fitness, brain health, enriched environment, exercise
Exercise for healthy new neurons: even in middle age
by Ward • • 3 Comments
Here is a follow-up to my Monday post on the quick rebound from an exercise layoff in the important brain health protein brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). A new paper published in the Journal of Applied Physiology examined running, BDNF, trkB, neurogenesis (new neurons), and neurite outgrowth (branching of the new neurons) in middle age rodents.…
brain fitness, brain health, exercise
A layoff results in aerobic deconditioning what about the brain?
by Ward • • 1 Comment
I have previously written a few times about how quickly deconditioning of aerobic fitness occurs after an exercise layoff (see here and here), but what about brain health? I have a perfect reason for writing this new piece because with my recent travel schedule (multiple cities, multiple meetings, etc), busy conferences, and maybe an extra…
brain health
Do we need a new art form for the 21st century?
by Ward • • 1 Comment
Brain stimulation for a healthy brain can come in many forms – for the past couple days it has been touring NY city and visiting museums. I visited the MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art) today as part of my final art plunge brain stimulation activity in NY city. What struck me was one of…
brain health
How old are your arteries ?
by Ward • • 0 Comments
How healthy are your arteries that supply the blood to your brain (carotid arteries)? Your brain health is influenced by getting an adequate blood supply. What do you think happens to your brain health if it is not getting sufficient blood supply due to blocked unhealthy arteries? A frightening new study (abstract published at the…