Guest Author - Alegra Bartzat

Neuroplasticity is a trendy word in science these days. It seems like you can listen to the radio or read the newspaper without some mention of it. So, what exactly is it? And why should you care?

Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to create new brain pathways. The neurons in our brains, the brain cells responsible for brain activity and essentially all bodily communication can continue to grow, change, adapt throughout our lives, though science previously believed that these kinds of brain changes only occurred in young children.



It turns out that you can actually play a big role in your own mental health as you age. Growing old does not necessarily mea a lifetime of the notorious (and often humorous) senior moments. In fact, you may even be able to play a role in preventing the far more serious detriments of things like Alzheimer’s, senility, and dementia.

What can you do to maintain brain health?

Exercise!
That’s right-- exercise your brain. Just like your body will improve when you exercise your body, your brain will respond similarly. Continuing to learn is the simplest and most effective way to exercise your brain. Take that knitting class you’ve always thought about; learn a new language; do crosswords, word games, or number games like sudoku; learn a foreign language. The trick is you can’t choose an activity that is easy for you. If you already know Spanish, taking a Spanish class is not doing the trick. The important thing is to challenge your brain.

Party!
Socializing has been linked to substantially less chance of mental detriment in old age. The more you socialize, especially as you age, the better your brain works. Socializing does involve mental functions like memory, but it is also linked to increased immune function and other health toting benefits.

Exercise!
And this time I mean your body. Your physical and mental health are imminently intertwined. You should get moderate amounts of exercise on a regular basis, and more if you are so inclined. AT the minimum you should be walking and doing some kind of strength training. You can also hike, bike, run, yoga, dance, or do cartwheels. Whatever make it fun! Dancing is especially good, as it is also linked back mental exercise (memorizing all those steps!) and socializing.

Relax!
Stress is a killer; it degrades your physical and mental health. While brief exposures to stress can help you achieve goals and reach for new heights, chronic stress should be avoided. Take a vacation, get a massage, soak in the tub, work a little less, drink tea, whatever you need to do to unwind on a regular basis, do it! Your body and mind will thank you.

Sleep!
Getting regular sleep will benefit you, both physically and mentally.

Eat!
Well, okay, Eat Healthy! Your diet plays a major role in your brain function. This is being proved (finally) with children in school. When the cafeterias begin serving fresh, healthy food, the test scores go up and the behavior problems go down. Well, that applies throughout your life. Your diet affects your physical and mental health. Of course all the superfoods are recommended as well – those high in antioxidants and with healthy fats and oils. The general rule of thumb is to think about what actually comes off the farm. Eat the vegetables, grains, dairy and meat that actually come off the farm, and avoid the processed junky stuff that comes from a factory.