It’s no secret that with age, mental health can deteriorate. For adults, leading a healthy lifestyle is important to maintain cognitive abilities such as memory and the ability to solve problems. These activities do not require much effort and it is important to motivate the mind every day in order to stay sharp. Read on to help your brain stay fit!
To celebrate the 25th edition of Brain Week in 2023, this important event is taking place this month from March 13 to 19, under the auspices of the prestigious Society for Neuroscience. The main function of Brain Week is to make the public aware of the importance of brain research and the scientific advances made in this field. As part of this initiative, the Vaincre Alzheimer Foundation is joining as a partner to contribute to the dissemination of relevant information and to support research on this neurodegenerative disease.
All events and activities organized throughout this week dedicated to information on the brain are available on the official website weekdubrain.fr. These events include conferences, workshops, screenings and various activities, in order to meet the expectations and interests of a diverse audience interested in the theme of psychology.
On this occasion, we also want to share some tips for taking care of your brain, and especially your memory. Indeed, like a muscle, memory is strengthened and developed through practice and regular attendance. So we give you 8 activities to take every day to improve your memory abilities.
Sports :
Regular physical activity has been shown to improve cognitive function in older adults, particularly with memory and executive functions. Physical activity also increases blood flow, which can help reduce the risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, exercise releases endorphins, which can help improve mood and reduce stress.
Interview:
Emotional communication can help keep the brain active and alert. Having meaningful conversations with friends and family members involves complex cognitive processes such as abstract thinking, problem solving, interpreting emotions, and understanding language.
Learn new skills:
Accepting the challenge of learning a new technology helps to maintain and even increase scientific activity by activating different parts of the brain, even in old age. This can range from learning a new language to practicing a musical instrument to painting – whatever skill comes to mind you will do.
Interact with colleagues:
Staying in touch with society is important for seniors, as it helps them stay mentally alert while providing emotional support in difficult times. Scheduling to meet friends or family members with similar interests often helps to stay positive while providing an opportunity to practice valuable communication skills such as listening and speaking clearly in conversation. .
To play games:
Playing games such as card games, puzzles or board games can help seniors to concentrate better by boosting their logical thinking skills as well as their creativity and concentration level when playing against an opponent or a partner. Friendly competition activates the brain’s reward system, which builds motivation and helps maintain better mental acuity over time.
Reflection:
Meditation and relaxation techniques help reduce stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact mental health. Seniors can practice meditation, yoga, or Tai-chi to improve their mental and emotional well-being.
Sexual activity:
Sexual activity has positive effects on cognitive function in older adults due to its ability to increase blood flow throughout the body, including the brain, while relieving stress, improving sleep quality, and releasing endorphins that improve mood. to. In addition, sexual activity has been associated with strong feelings of closeness between partners, which provides emotional support for older adults who may experience loneliness or anxiety due to aging or other life changes, they can face in their life stage.
Stay tuned:
During a study conducted in the United States, it was revealed that people with an optimistic state of mind are on average 30% less likely to suffer from cognitive deficits. Hope can help reduce the production of inflammatory substances such as interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein, which are known to be linked to an increased risk of cognitive impairment.
The good news is that hope is not a physical quality and can be developed through self-work, as Professor Amouyel explains. To develop this habit, we advise you not to let yourself be discouraged by negative emotions, but instead to learn to step back from events and put things in perspective. One of the keys to achieving this is to strive to live fully in the present moment, without being weighed down by thoughts of the past.
