Mark McDaniel, lecturer in psychology at Washington University in St Louis, agrees ads, "I'd suggest a combined programmed of aerobics and weight training. Studies show the best outcomes for those engaged in both types of exercise".
As we age, our brain cells, called neurons, lose the tree-branch-like connections between them. These connections, or synapse, are essential thought. Quite literally, overtime, our brains lose their heft. Perhaps the most striking brain research today is the strong evidence that "exercise can forestall some of the ageing processes in the brain", notes Professor Mahoney, dean and professor of applied sport psychology at the University of Wolver Hampton in England. "Certainly, it improves memory". Animal studies have shown that, among other brain benefits, aerobic exercise increases capillary development in the brain and that means more blood supply, more nutrients and- a big requirement for brain health - more oxygen.
One of the foremost exercise and brain-health researchers in humans is Professor Arthur Kramer of the University go Illinois. In a dozen studies over the past few years, with titles such as "Aerobic Fitness Reduces Brain Tissue Loss in Ageing Humans". Kramer and his colleagues have proved two critical findings: fit people have sharper brains, and people, who are out of shape, but then get into shape, sharpen up their brains. This second finding is vital. There's no question that working out makes you cleverer and it does so, Kramer notes, at all stages of life. Just as important, exercise staves off heart disease, obesity, diabetes and other maladies that increase the risk of brain problems as we age.
Laugh a Little
Humor stimulates the parts of our brain that use the "feel good" chemical messenger dopamine. That puts laughter in the category of activities you want to do over and over and over again, such as eating chocolate or having sex. Laughter is pleasurable, perhaps even "addictive" to the brain
But can humor make us cleverer? The jury is still out and more studies are needed, but the initial results are encouraging.
Feed It
Another path to a better brain is through your stomach. We've all heard about antioxidants as cancer fighters. Eating foods that contain these molecules, which neutralize harmful free radicals - then break down the neutrons in our brains -, may be especially good for your brain too. Many colorful fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxidants, as are some beans, whole grains, nuts and spices.
More important, though, is overall nutrition. In concert with good exercise routine, you should eat correctly to avoid the diseases that modern flesh is heir to. High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol all make life tough on your brain, says Carol Greenwood, PhD, a geriatric research scientist at the University of Toronto in Canada.
If your diet is heavy, then you're a probably also heavy. The same weight that burdens your legs on the stairs also burdens your brain for the witty reply or quick problem solving. The best thing you can eat for your body, Greenwood notes, are also the best things you can eat for your brain. Your brain is in your body, after all. Greenwood's recommendation is to follow the dietary guidelines from the American Diabetes Association.
Speed It Up
Sorry to say, our brains naturally start slowing down at the cruelly young age of 30 (yes, 30). It used to be thought that this couldn't be helped, but a barrage of new studies shows that people of any age can train their brains to be faster. "Your brain is a learning machine," says University of California neuroscientist Dr Michael Morenci. Given the right tools, we can train our brains to act like they did when we were younger. All that's required is dedicated practice: a few exercises for the mind.
To keep your brain young and supple you can do one of million new activities that challenge and excite you: playing table tennis or bridge, doing judoka, crossword puzzles, jigsaws, learning a language, or the tango, mastering bonsai techniques and, yes relearning differential calculus. When it comes to warding off aging or dementia, you really do "use it or lose it".
Give It a Rest
Perhaps the most extreme example of the mental power of staying calms the creative benefit of sleep. Next time you're working on a complex problem, whether it is calculus proof or choosing the right car for your family, it really pays to" sleep on it"
