Article by Vic Wright BA
mytimesmyown.co.uk

As a Net amateur, starting a new website and newsletter was a challenge.

There were problems (and a lot of satisfaction) in designing and coding the website; in mastering all the procedures necessary to publish it.

Fortunately, the weather was pretty horrible and Margaret seemed to have run out of jobs for me to do, so I've was able to spend some time thrashing my brain and cursing the PC, the Net and all things technical.

But all the effort finally paid off. All sorts of stuff that was a complete mystery to me became, at least, a bit clearer.

I think the real benefit from any sort of challenging project is the fact that it exercises the brain. It makes it work harder trying to understand new concepts and attempting to solve problems that are outside of your previous experience.

I really believe in that old adage "Use it or lose it". And my belief was strengthened by an article I read recently.

Back in the 70's a researcher, Dr Caleb Finch, carried out some experiments with rodents that resulted in an false assumption being laid to rest. For years medical doctrine had held that we are born with a certain number of brain cells which we slowly lose as we grow older. That belief was soon to change.

Finch took two groups of rodents. One group was provided with a stimulating environment - lots of toys, mazes to negotiate, exercise apparatus and plenty of opportunity for social interaction. The other group lived in standard cages with no stimulation.

He found that the rodents in the first group performed much better on memory and learning tests - not suprising, given all the experience they had. But what was suprising was the finding that they had generated many more new brain neurons than the second group.

The supposition that no new neurons form in the brain in adulthood was proven to be incorrect.

Experts in the Aging Brain Program at the Brain Research Centre now believe that even such activities as "reading mystery stories, doing crossword puzzles, playing challenging card games, doing needlework or engaging in frequent and strong social interactions" are "known to be predictive of successful [brain] aging".

So there it is. If you want to keep your mind sharp, and your brain working as it should, you've got to provide it with challenges.

Flog your brain. Regular mental stimulation will go a long way to helping you keep your mental marbles.

Take care of yourself (and your brain),

Take charge of your life and start enjoying yourself.

© Copyright 2006 Vic Wright. All Rights Reserved.

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