Just as you can’t binge on the last day right before an exam, it doesn’t seem like having good brain health is something we can only cultivate at the end of life. At least that is one of the conclusions that we found in a recent article published in the scientific journal Aging Research Reviews (2015).
Mark P. Mattson, from the National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program in Baltimore, in the United States, has carried out a review of various works on this question of general interest: the secret of how to keep the brain young and healthy when we reach old age .
From the different studies reviewed for the preparation of the review article, the authors deduce that there are three important factors that stand out: physical exercise, fasting or food restriction, and participation in cognitive and social activities.
There are very many studies that have shown the benefits of doing physical exercise on a regular basis on the functioning of the brain , not only because it stimulates brain plasticity capacities, but also a better attentional and learning performance, and even on an emotional level.
On the other hand, they argue, our brain has evolved to be very efficient when we need to find food, and for that reason it is possible that depriving ourselves or fasting promotes better brain function.
The author comments that with the introduction of technological advances in agriculture, we no longer use so much physical or mental effort in the search for food (since it is much less expensive to go to the supermarket). The consequence is that we do not do so much fasting or so much physical exercise. What is left for us to maintain a healthy brain? Mattson responds that the solution would be to provide the brain with intellectual challenges that force it to get going and keep exercising.
As a final contribution, Mattson forces us not to forget the risk of not taking care of ourselves. Aging is a risk factor for the development of diseases that affect brain function, such as Alzheimer’s , and not exercising, not maintaining a proper diet or not stimulating mental functions throughout life could increase the risk to suffer any of those pathologies that, finally, limit our daily life. Do not leave it and take care of your brain for life .
Marisa Fernández is Senior Neuropsychologist at Unobrain
