Some experts say the brain is like a muscle that needs to be exercised regularly, and brain games can help improve memory and keep it sharper. The theory makes sense and just in case, I'm doing my best to exercise it daily.
While I wholeheartedly embrace keeping your brain active, I am quite literal so I will push back a bit on this. The brain is not a muscle, it is an organ.
It is quite astoundingly able to create new neuro pathways to compensate for lanes that are blocked or destroyed. It isn't very good, I dare say incapable, of repairing the damage of a relentless assault, such as it gets with the progression of Alzheimer's or Lewy Body dementia.
But with vascular dementia in particular, the brain can locate alternative routes around the blocked blood vessels, and there is a possibility of a partial, even close to a full, recovery of brain function as long as the underlying reason for the mini-strokes is resolved. A correct diagnosis at the beginning is key to a possible recovery.
Hi, What great information to add to the topic! Thank you. I know there is debate about the brain being a muscle - but just in case I plan to keep exercising it.
Bill, what about the "relelntless assault" on the brain of those who are spending most of their days on iphones and other mindless screens? Any opinions on that?
Every year I pick up a college algebra book and go through it to test my math skills. I hate numbers but it seems to exercise my brain the best and I find it challenging. I'm banking on reading, writing, and staying physically active (really active) to stave off the brain diseases... now about my finding ways to stay cheerful...
I have picked up crosswords again myself and have allowed myself more variety in my reading choices. It doesn't always have to be work related anymore. Thanks, Janice!
Since you like word games, Let me suggest Wordle (https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html ). and Waffle (wafflegame.net) if you don't do them already. I play for 30 minutes every morning - six word games. Between word games and writing, I HOPE i am keeping my brain exercised, as you do. Perk: I can put off making my bed...
Some experts say the brain is like a muscle that needs to be exercised regularly, and brain games can help improve memory and keep it sharper. The theory makes sense and just in case, I'm doing my best to exercise it daily.
While I wholeheartedly embrace keeping your brain active, I am quite literal so I will push back a bit on this. The brain is not a muscle, it is an organ.
It is quite astoundingly able to create new neuro pathways to compensate for lanes that are blocked or destroyed. It isn't very good, I dare say incapable, of repairing the damage of a relentless assault, such as it gets with the progression of Alzheimer's or Lewy Body dementia.
But with vascular dementia in particular, the brain can locate alternative routes around the blocked blood vessels, and there is a possibility of a partial, even close to a full, recovery of brain function as long as the underlying reason for the mini-strokes is resolved. A correct diagnosis at the beginning is key to a possible recovery.
Hi, What great information to add to the topic! Thank you. I know there is debate about the brain being a muscle - but just in case I plan to keep exercising it.
Bill, what about the "relelntless assault" on the brain of those who are spending most of their days on iphones and other mindless screens? Any opinions on that?
That's a good question, I wonder . . .
My husband and I play two or three games of Rumikub weekly in hopes that dementia will be kept at bay.
Every year I pick up a college algebra book and go through it to test my math skills. I hate numbers but it seems to exercise my brain the best and I find it challenging. I'm banking on reading, writing, and staying physically active (really active) to stave off the brain diseases... now about my finding ways to stay cheerful...
I have picked up crosswords again myself and have allowed myself more variety in my reading choices. It doesn't always have to be work related anymore. Thanks, Janice!
Since you like word games, Let me suggest Wordle (https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html ). and Waffle (wafflegame.net) if you don't do them already. I play for 30 minutes every morning - six word games. Between word games and writing, I HOPE i am keeping my brain exercised, as you do. Perk: I can put off making my bed...
and the other house chores that call - feed the cats, empty the dishwasher, go to the grocery. Word games and writing are much more to my liking.