Researchers have fathomed out that individuals who are more inclined to healthy behaviours slacken off their risk of mental illness. As part of the PLOS ONE’s study in 2013, 2,225 men were examined for 30 years by quantifying their engagement in this healthy lifestyle behaviours:
- Optimal Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Non-smoking
- High vegetable and fruit intake
- Low to moderate alcohol intake
- Regular physical activity
About 60 per cent participators who successfully managed following the four—all of the five behaviours. These study participators were less likely to be struck down with impairment and dementia cognitively.
Robert Bender, MD, the director of the Johnny Orr Memory Center and Healthy Aging Institute in Des Moines, Iowa, has listed the five practices that are included in approaching brain health:
- Well-balanced diet
- Low in cholesterol
- Low in fat
- High in antioxidants
- Regular exercise
Our brains tend to atrophy when they’re passive, Dr Bender explained—our brains want to learn and discover new things. Did you know that having a sedentary lifestyle and engaging more in passive activities can cause damage to our brain health?
Dementia: Early Signs and Symptoms
Alzheimer’s and memory loss are a few of the most common symptoms of Dementia. Even so, other possible symptoms can be encountered based on the type of brain disease.
Vascular dementia occurs when the blood vessels in our brains are damaged or blocked. It means that it deprives the oxygen of the brain cells and the needed vital nutrients.
Here are the signs and symptoms of Vascular dementia:
- Confusion
- Loss of Vision
- Disorientation
- Difficulty Speaking
- Trouble Finding the Right Words
- Difficulty Comprehending Speech
- Uncontrolled Laughing and Crying
- Difficulty Functioning in Social Situations
- Increasing Inability to Focus Mentally
- Difficulty Making Judgement and Planning
Ten Effective Brain Exercises to Improve Memory Retention
One of the best ways to start exercising your brain is by reading a morning newspaper. Playing Sudoku and word games are also great to exercise your mind.
David Eagleman, PhD, a neuroscientist believes that our brains work through associations. The more senses we involve, the better. Here are the ten effective brain exercises you can do to sharpen and improve your memory retention.
1. Test Your Recall
Testing your recall is one of the most effective brain exercises you can do to sharpen your memory skills. By doing this exercise, creating a to-do list helps a lot.
A grocery list will do or anything that comes to your mind. Then after jotting down and completing your list, study and memorise it. You can challenge yourself an hour later and see how many items your brain can recall.
2. Let the Music Play
As claimed by numerous studies, allowing your brain to learn something new and adapt new skills can benefit your ageing mind. Playing a musical instrument and joining a choir are perfect additions to your hobby list.
3. Do Math in Your Head
We know the struggle of solving a math problem without the help of our calculator, pencil, paper or any devices. Yes, this might challenge yourself, but it turns out that figuring out a problem with these devices will exercise your brain.
By doing so, why try figuring out a problem and do the math in your head whilst walking? This will make the challenge more athletic and stimulating at the same time.
4. Take a Cooking Class
Learning how to cook a new cuisine is certainly one of the best ways to learn and discover something new. It is time to use all of your senses and get the different parts of your brain involved such as smell, touch, sight and taste.
5. Learn a Foreign Language
Did you know that hearing and listening are involved in stimulating our brains? A rich vocabulary has been linked to a lower risk for cognitive decline. With that being said, learning a foreign language ensures to heft your memory boost.
6. Create Word Pictures
Creating word pictures is perfect for boosting your memory retention. All you have to do is to visualise the spelling of a particular word in your head. Then think of another word which starts or ends with the same two letters.
7. Draw a Map from Memory
If you’re the type of person who loves going to new places, here’s a tip for you to help boost your memory retention. Challenge yourself by sketching a map of that particular area in your mind after returning home from visiting that place.
See if your brain recalls the exact location of that place.
8. Challenge Your Taste Buds
If you want to challenge your mind with something you haven’t done in your life, then this one is ideal for you! When you’re eating, try to identify the individual ingredients from your meal starting with the subtle herbs and spices.
This might sound really challenging for you, but they, this one does the trick in boosting your brain. You can do it!
9. Refine Your Hand-Eye Abilities
What’s amazing about refining your hand-eye abilities is it helps to improve your mind! Not only that, but it also gives you a room for improvements and eventually discovering new talent.
Why not try taking up new hobbies that involve excellent motor skills such as painting, drawing, knitting, just to name a few.
10. Learn a New Sport
Few of the best sports that help to utilise your body and mind are yoga, golf and tennis. This is also the time for you to bring out your inner sporty skills.
Can you imagine yourself having the potential of remembering things like names, dates, events and every detail? If yes, this could guarantee you countless advantages in your daily living.
We hope this write-up about brain exercises will help you not only to increase your total recall but also to help you discover and learn new things!