MORE ON BRAIN ANTIAGING

Yesterday I talked about the brain and how puzzles of various types can slow down the aging of the brain. There are a few more suggestions I want you to be aware of.  Below are a few more suggestions I have found.

• Peace and Quiet - Harvard scientists found that people in their 50s who meditated for 40 minutes daily had the same amount of gray matter in one part of the prefrontal cortex as did those in their 20s. This even though the cortex shrinks with age. They said that meditation curbs production of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can shrink brain tissue.
• Games - I consider games to be about the same as puzzles. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, say playing games with others can make several parts of the brain bigger while improving thinking skills and memory. Even a game of solitaire pumps up parts of your brain power by protecting brain structures and functions vulnerable to decline.
• Want a snack? Try nachos. According to Japanese scientists say the beans and avocados in nachos contain minerals that can slash memory problems by 80% when eaten regularly. They are said to help the nerves in the brain signal properly so they can communicate clearly with each other.
• Sniff Rosemary. I have an earlier post on this blog about rosemary being helpful to the brain and here it is again. Give your brain an immediate boost with a sniff of this herb. British scientists found that the aroma can enhance prospective memory, which involves remembering time-sensitive tasks ie taking medication, by 75%.