In the recent past, there has been news of a discovery which involves plasticity of the brain. This development had come to revolutionize concepts that were already fixed, as it was previously thought that the brain stopped growing when one achieved 20 years of age. This is however not the case, if studies done by American neuropsychiatrists is anything to go by. This study states that the brain has neuroplastic ability and continues to grow as one continues to exercise it. The scientist who discovered this ability of the brain was awarded the 2000 Nobel Prize for their contribution to science. This discovery has led to a revolution in the medical frontier as it is now possible to understand how to manage better learning disability, stroke victims, and mental illness as well as brain injury and degeneration diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The discovery has also led to the increase of mental exercise aimed at improving neuroplasticity, be it for managing learning disability, treating patients with stroke or brain degeneration disease.
To improve the neuroplasticity of the brain requires one to regularly exercise the brain the same way you would exercise the muscles of the body through cardiovascular exercise or strength training. It is important to understand that brain function is normally affected by various factors including stress, drugs as well as various growth factors that control aging and learning the ability. The brain thus needs to be conditioned the same way you would condition the muscles of the heart. This means regular exercise that engages the whole brain to function, thus ensuring that the whole brain is healthy. When the whole brain is exercised, there is neurogenesis which takes place, Neurogenesis refers to the ability of the brain to regenerate new brain cells.
To have the right mental energy, it is important to undertake regular cardiovascular and strength training. This refers to the exercise of the general body like it, in turn, stimulates the release of endorphins which are hormones that bring out that good feeling after the exercise regime. Further, one is able to enjoy lower stress levels as cortisol is reduced, a hormone that has been associated with increased stress levels in the brain.In as much as brain exercise is good, it is recommended that the exercise be kept in check as failure to perform the right exercise at the right time will cause under stimulation of the targeted brain cells and over exercise will cause overstimulation. The right balance must thus be struck to ensure there is just but the right amount of stimulation.
Brain enhancing supplements are also recommended when one is undertaking this type of exercise as they help in getting the best possible end results.It is important to note that the exercise to engage in for the ideal brain workout need not necessarily be those that involve solving complex algorithms or some tests compiled by scientists. Simple exercise can help give out the required exercise of the brain. Improving neuroplasticity does not have to involve brain games with complex algorithms compiled by a team of neuroscientists. Below are examples of a broad range of brain exercises you can fit into your daily life. Some of these include board games such as chess and checkers, debating with colleagues on various issues affecting general life such as politics or even the environment or even taking a course in a field you are interested in. This challenges the brain in doing common tasks in a different way all together. If you love hiking, choosing a different trail all together makes the going a lot of fun. This helps one stretch their intellectual capacity to realms unknown to man.
Meditation is yet another way that neuroplasticity can be restored, especially for people who have had
brain injury. What is required is one to try to connect with their inner selves and find a balance between the interior and exterior world. In so doing, brain wave movement is stimulated and this helps in the regeneration of neurons in the brain, thus regeneration of old or damaged cells. This has been shown to help people become more creative and get out of the box solutionsTo get the best out of all the exercise requires one to integrate cardiovascular exercise, good diet and brain enhancing supplements for the best results, not forgetting taking the stated brain exercises for optimum health. Increased frequency of the exercises should be done for people who have had brain injury so as to stimulate quick regeneration of brain cells.
References https://www.behance.net/gallery/33617153/All-about-the-Right-Dose-of-exercise-for-your-Aging-Bra? Source : articlesbase.com
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