Three reasons Why would you start brain building from age 45

 
Under 60? You probably haven’t thought much about building your brain for the future, but did you know that starting to focus on your brain now could improve your quality of life (and that of your family) as you get older?

There is plenty of interest in brain maintenance and improvement among the 60+ age cohort. Over 60, we can start to become very conscious about deterioration, dependency and even dementia. However, even as we reach 45, parents and friends are becoming older and starting to show signs of the three D’s and most people know someone or have responsibility for someone with one of the D’s by the time they are 60.

 The brain simply doesn’t come to the top of the  awareness ‘pile’ when we’re younger; it’s something we can do something about when we have time – or we believe that it won’t happen to us and anyway that’s a long way off! There is so much else to focus on… it isn’t much of an exaggeration to say that most people under 60 know more about a mobile phone than their brain! But if you knew that there were some very simple things that you could do now that would make a difference later – wouldn’t you build them into your life?

I am lucky. I needed to find out about brain repair when I was in my 50’s. A tumour the size of a lemon took its toll on the frontal lobe of my brain. In the process of learning to rewire my own brain, I became amazed by its ability to rebuild and equally surprised by how few people know or care about building a strong brain. I have learned that there are three very good reasons why everyone over 45 should be putting more time and energy themselves into building a stronger brain for life:

1. Plan - build fitness into everyday life for when you’re older
2. Take the opportunity to build your own unique wisdom
3. Protect your brain by wiring now - damage can happen at any age

1. Plan - build fitness into everyday life for when you’re older
   Did you know that age related brain decline can be avoided by exercise? Recent research acknowledges that regular aerobic activity is beneficial for the brain and it doesn’t need to be excessive!* Some neuro specialists have even suggest that, walking for 30 minutes three times a week, or for 20 minutes a day could cut your chances of developing Alzheimer’s by 50%. Planning is about making sure that there is some future potential to build on.
    
   Physical brain fitness is one thing, but cognitive decline happens when the wiring (connections) within the brain starts to fail. While we can change the brain at any age, the most effective time to strengthen this wiring is before problems arise. Basically, once the brain reaches its peak, it will deteriorate gradually if it doesn’t get exercise and challenge. Normal age related mental decline tends to make us slower, less adaptable and have a worse memory – all of which make life more difficult. Brain age is not necessarily related to body age.  A combination of physical and cognitive fitness work together .It is possible to maintain mental fitness and even improve it, but doing the crossword and Sudoku everyday alone will not do it. Exercising without mental challenges won’t either. The secret seems to be regular exercise and daily mental challenges combined with other lifestyle habits.
   
   
2. Take the opportunity to build your own unique ‘Wisdom’
   Did you know – how many older success stories there are over the age of 50? Often, a complete change of career or direction leads to a new era of achievement at this stage of life  and that then continues into old age.**
    
   Why not aim at becoming more useful rather than dependent? Wisdom is the one aspect of your brain that can develop with age. After about age 45, the brain’s wiring is physically able to connect in a way that cannot be done when young. Most wise people are old, but not all older people are wise – unfortunately, wisdom doesn’t develop automatically with age. The brain is a tool that benefits from regular sharpening and then being used properly for the right work. Wisdom is shaped and built on a lifetime of wiring. The way to shift into a higher gear at 50 and beyond is to choose the area of focus to fit your age and experience. Ask what is my cumulative experience not what job can I hang onto? What matters to the world and naturally energises me as well as keeping me financially independent? Often, portfolio incomes work best and give more independence as well as income. Staying employed doesn’t necessarily mean having one job…
   
   
3. Protect your brain by wiring now - damage can happen at any age
   Did you know that the brain can change and adapt but rewiring needs persistence and support rather than sympathy alone.***
    
   We may all need to ‘reboot’ the brain after damage. We may also need to help a partner, child, parent or friend to recover. The damage I’m talking about includes stroke, car/ sporting accidents or brain tumour. These types of damage are common at all ages but more frequent as we age.  Any damage is much easier to deal with if you have strong and diverse wiring across the brain. The brain recovers function by learning to substitute different areas for damage and by wiring around the damage itself. The stronger and more connected the wiring – the better the chances of recovery.

We tend to take our brain for granted – it just works and after all, we practice by using it every day don’t we? Not really – even doing the crossword every day isn’t a road to brain health without other, integrated activities and lifestyle choices. The good news is that there are some very simple ways to maintain brain health and build strength in everyday life. We must stay relevant and adaptable as the population ages over the next 20 years.  If you are 45 or older, be a role model and do it yourself and help a family member or friend to change their brain while you are at it – at least spend as much time learning about your brain as on your mobile phone!

 
*http://www.neurological.org.nz/brain-health/stay-active  
 
** https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/adventures-in-old-age/201002/the-top-ten-late-bloomers-all-time
 
*** If you haven’t read it yet, check out the examples in Norman Doidge’s book ‘The brain that changes itself’      
http://www.normandoidge.com/?pageid=1042