When we think of working out and exercising, we generally think of physical activities like running, swimming, jumping, etc. However, it is crucial to include the brain in your workout routine as well, especially as we age.
This is because, as we get older, we become more susceptible to degenerative brain diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
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Many retirement homes are now including ‘brain fitness’ classes in their schedules in an effort to help combat the onset of memory related illnesses, but these types of exercises should be starting far earlier than retirement age.
These ‘brain fitness’ classes are more than simple brain games, such as Lumosity or Soduku; instead they have adopted a holistic approach to brain exercise and memory treatment that requires continuous mental stimulation and spatial awareness.
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Some examples of various ‘brain fitness’ exercises are: learning a new language, learning to play an instrument, reading out loud, reading and then discussing the material, taking a different driving route, doing mental calculations, eating with the non-dominate hand, completing puzzles, learning about proper nutrition, meditation, or even throwing a handkerchief in the air and catching it with the other hand. There are endless, simple techniques that anyone can do, with or without a class or supervision.
The bottom line is that the goal of these brain fitness exercises is to engage in a new activity that has never been done before, every day. This mandates your brain to constantly make new neural connections and to be acutely aware of your surroundings, instead of operating on auto-pilot doing the same tasks over and over again.
Retirement patients who have participated in some form of ‘brain fitness’ class have said these are more than just a memory aid, but a tool to help with socializing, talking to people, exercising, and just engaging with the world in general. Even without any memory benefits, it is clear that these kinds of exercises have the potential to increase our quality of life, no matter our age, which is priceless.
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