Just like muscles, it is possible to lose the condition of your brain if you don’t exercise it, especially in your senior years.
Changes to the brain during aging include:
-
Neurons die of “old age” and are not replaced by new cells
-
The process of sending messages between neurons becomes slower
-
Fat and other deposits build up in neurons, limiting their function.
You may have heard that as you age your brain becomes lighter and smaller and may not function as well as a younger brain. Well, that’s not true. It can still work just as well, even when neurons die.
When a neuron dies, another neuron can take over its responsibilities and function even if a new one does not replace it. That’s why brain exercises are important to keep neural pathways redirected and growing, along with regular moderately intensive exercises to give the brain a boost of oxygen.
You won’t be surprised to learn that the smart advice is to avoid smoking and not drink too much alcohol.
