New Toys + New Playmates = Better Brain

Written by Susan Dunn, MA, Emotional Intelligence Coach


Some ofrepparttar stereotypes we have aboutrepparttar 126137 brain and aging are being dispelled by recent research. Here are some myths and new reality.

1. Myth: Once you're born, all you can look forward to is a long and steady loss of brain cells.

REALITY: “Stem” cells inrepparttar 126138 brain can create new neurons, and idle neurons will extend their branches to carry signals to and from other neurons indefinitely, underrepparttar 126139 right conditions.

2. MYTH: We can’t get smarter as we age.

REALITY: Mice in an enriched environment (new toys and playmates), increased 4000 new neurons inrepparttar 126140 hippocampus (crucial to memory and learning) compared to 2400 inrepparttar 126141 control group. Older mice’s brains also got bigger and better quickly! (Diamond and Rosenzweig, Elizabeth Gould, Princeton)

3. MYTH: Creativity diminishes with age.

REALITY: According to Ralph Warner, author of “Get a Life: You Don’t Need a Million to Retire Well,” “older artists often do well, commonly experiencing a sustained burst of exciting creativity after 65.”

4. MYTH: There isn’t much you can do to avoid Alzheimer’s.

REALITY: According to David Snowden, Ph.D., “Aging with Grace,” hardworking brains (the ones that keep learning new challenging things) do well because their stimulated cells branch frequently. This results in millions of new synapses sorepparttar 126142 brain actually becomes larger and a larger brain can cope better withrepparttar 126143 effects of brain diseases, like Alzheimer’s and strokes. Theoretically because it has more active tissue, and therefore a greater number of ways to work around diseased or damaged areas.

5. MYTH: What you’ve got, is all you’ll ever get.

REALITY: According to Paula Tallal, Rutgers neuroscientist, “You create your brain fromrepparttar 126144 input you get,” i.e., intellectual stimulation strengthensrepparttar 126145 brain because inrepparttar 126146 normal course of living, our brains constantly reorganize themselves, which is called neuroplasticity.” Neuroplasticity accelerates withrepparttar 126147 amount and complexity ofrepparttar 126148 new information our brains receive.

6. MYTH: As you age, it’s too hard to learn new things, so stick with what you already know.

Enhancing Your Brain As You Age

Written by Susan Dunn, MA, Emotional Intelligence Coach & Consultant


“The juvenile sea squirt wanders throughrepparttar sea searching for a suitable rock or hunk of coral to cling to and make its home for life. For this task, it has a rudimentary nervous system. When it finds its spot and takes root, it doesn’t need its brain any more so it eats it! It’s rather like getting tenure.” ~David Dennett, “Consciousness Explained”

And true to form, I have a client who’s a tenured college professor, head ofrepparttar 126136 department, who is “going out of his mind.” He came to me for coaching because he’s deeply dissatisfied with his life, and wants to change careers.

Without violating confidentiality, I can say this client is desperate for new experiences, for meaning and purpose, and for something new in his life. He is “hamstrung” by a high salary and a less-than-30-hour week with long vacations, but is beginning to seerepparttar 126137 “price” is not worth it.

Though this gentleman happens to actually be a tenured professor, he is representative of many clients I have who are 50 or older.

As more Baby Boomers “come of age,”repparttar 126138 studies about aging continue to pump in lots of new information to counteract former stereotypes. Science is discovering that “old” rats given new toys and new playmates start growing new brain cells, and better brain cells. Imagine!

And, poignantly, this is whatrepparttar 126139 professor lamentsrepparttar 126140 most –repparttar 126141 fact that he isn’t encouraged, or allowed, to innovate withinrepparttar 126142 department; and that there’s no camaraderie.

Let’s take a look at some myths about aging andrepparttar 126143 brain, to encourage you to keep learning, and to keep acquiring new toys, and new playmates. And, oh yes, get toys that give you a good workout, both physically and mentally. That’s one ofrepparttar 126144 keys to resilience as you age!

MYTH No. 1: Once you’re born, all you can look forward to is a long and steady loss of brain cells (aka neurons).

REALITY: “Stem” cells inrepparttar 126145 human brain can create new neurons indefinitely, and relatively idle neurons will extend their branches to carry signals to and from other neurons indefinitely, underrepparttar 126146 proper circumstances.

MYTH No. 2: We can’t get smarter as we age.

REALITY: Mice (are we like mice … you berepparttar 126147 judge) in an enriched environment, with interesting toys and playmates, showed an increase in 4000 new neurons inrepparttar 126148 hippocampus (crucial to memory and learning) compared to 2400 inrepparttar 126149 control group with no toys or playmates. And older mice’s brains also got bigger and better! And quickly! (Diamond and Rosenzweig, Elizabeth Gould, Princeton)

MYTH No. 3: Creativity diminishes with age.

REALITY: According to Ralph Warner, author of “Get a Life: You Don’t Need a million to Retire Well,” “older artists often do well, commonly experiencing a sustained burst of exciting creativity after 65.”

MYTH No. 4: There isn’t much you can do to avoid Alzheimer’s.

REALITY: According to David Snowden, Ph.D., “Aging with Grace,” hardworking brains (the ones that get used in learning new things all during life) do well because their stimulated cells branch frequently, resulting in millions of new connections (synapses) sorepparttar 126150 brain actually becomes larger and…evidence continues to accumulate that a larger brain can cope withrepparttar 126151 effects of brain diseases, like Alzheimer’s and strokes. Theoretically because a larger brain has more active tissue, and therefore a greater number of ways to work around diseased or damaged areas.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use