Yahoo Lifestyle The Shockingly Simple Way to Keep Your Brain Young
From what you eat and how you sleep to your workout routine, countless factors can—and do—contribute to better brain health. But one element, recently identified by Yale University researchers, is surprisingly unexpected.
Published in PNAS, the study analyzed brain scans from nearly 38,000 people—19,964 women and 17,607 men—and examined functional connectivity (how different parts of the brain communicate with each other).
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The Shockingly Simple Way to Keep Your Brain Young
As for what they found? People who had children demonstrated stronger brain connectivity, particularly in areas that help with coordination, movement and physical awareness. But while aforementioned networks typically worsen with age, parents showed less of this decline—and such was the case regardless of gender, meaning both moms and dads demonstrated this equally.
Translation? This research suggests that parenthood could actually help protect the brain from age-related brain problems, meaning that one shockingly simple way to keep your brain young is to, well, have kids. Who would've thought?!
Related: Using This Basic Skill Every Day Could Prevent Cognitive Decline
Why Does This Matter For Me?
Despite how stressful having kids can be, doing so can actually keep your brain healthier for longer. That said, these findings could still apply to people with or without children.
While the study did not pinpoint exactly why parenthood is linked to better brain health, it did suggest that it isn't because of the biology of pregnancy, meaning that it's the lifestyle—meaning staying mentally and physically active—that seems to provide the benefits, as opposed to childbearing or pregnancy.
More specifically, the study pointed to the increased cognitive stimulation, problem-solving, multitasking, emotional engagement, and physical activity that is likely responsible for the brain boost. The researchers also noted that further research is needed to separate the effects of caregiving from other lifestyle factors such as income, education and social engagement.
Related: Are Word Games Actually Good for Brain Health?
How to Boost Your Brain Health Without Having Kids
So while having kids does can contribute to better brain health, the real lesson is that activities that challenge your brain and keep you engaged can likely be beneficial for long-term cognitive function. Here's how to emulate that in your everyday life.
Practice basic skills everyday...
Science has already looked into this, in fact: According to a recent study, practicing basic skills everyday, like reading and doing math, can help prevent cognitive decline.
...Especially ones that challenge your brain.
The same goes for things like crosswords and word games, according to Dr. Elana Clar, MD, a neurologist with New Jersey Brain and Spine. “While there are many variables that contribute to ‘brain health’—including nutrition, exercise, and engaging with community—stimulating activities such as learning a new language, acquiring a new skill set, or playing word games also have an important role in supporting cognitive vitality,” she previously told Parade, pointing to word games like crossword puzzles, Scrabble, sudoku and chess.
Related: 'I'm a Neurologist, and These Are the Games That Actually Make a Difference in Brain Health'
Stay social.
Try and find activities with a social element, too. “Adding a social element to any game—whether it is a physical sport or a word game—can improve energy and mood, both of which play a critical role in staying mentally sharp,” Dr. Clar continued, which makes sense: Research has continually proven that social connections play a major role in healthy aging.
Exercise.
“Engaging in physical activity can help train your brain’s problem-solving, coordination and memory areas,” Dr. Milica McDowell, DPT, the vice president of education at US Physical Therapy and an exercise physiologist, previously told Parade. “Learning centers can be strengthened, too, especially if you are learning a new exercise with complex patterns, like golf or pickleball.”
What's more, research has found that even just five minutes of daily exercise could help reduce dementia risk by 41%.
Final Thoughts
I guess the TL;DR is: Keep your brain and body engaged and busy, and they will thank you down the line—regardless of whether or not you have kids.
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Sources
"Protective role of parenthood on age-related brain function in mid- to late-life." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
Dr. Elana Clar, MD, neurologist with New Jersey Brain and Spine
Dr. Milica McDowell, DPT, vice president of education at US Physical Therapy and an exercise physiologist
