Contents:
- Medical Video: 9 Brain Exercises to Strengthen Your Mind
- Light exercise turns out to help sharpen memory
- Another alternative to improving memory besides exercise
- Get enough sleep every day
- Limit drinking alcoholic beverages
- Reducing sugar intake
Medical Video: 9 Brain Exercises to Strengthen Your Mind
There are lots of ways to sharpen memories. However, who would have thought that just light exercise can help you have better memory strength. Facts have been proven by researchers from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and the University of Tsukuba in Japan. Then, what kind of exercise can sharpen memory?
Light exercise turns out to help sharpen memory
Dr. Michael Yassa, lecturer in neuroscience at the University of California, Irvine, and colleagues at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, conducted a study that initially aimed to develop the ability of the elderly who experience physical or mental deficiencies. The goal is that the disability can still do simple sports that not only improve physical fitness but also prevent cognitive decline in the brain.
This study was then conducted on 36 healthy young adults. After that, the researchers asked them to do 10 minutes of mild physical movements such as tai chi or yoga. Then after this exercise session was over, each person was seen brain activity using high resolution functional magnetic resonance (MRI).
From the results of the examination, it turns out the experts found that people who exercise lightly for at least 10 minutes have better memory skills. The part of the brain where memory is stored, functions better and effectively after the participants make simple movements.
Usually, this part of the brain will decrease function when you get older. So the researchers stated that this could prevent dementia in the elderly.
Another alternative to improving memory besides exercise
In addition to doing light exercise for 10 minutes, research has proven various ways to sharpen memory by:
Get enough sleep every day
People who lack sleep tend to have worse memory abilities. Because, sleep plays an important role to strengthen short-term memory and turn it into long-term memories. In addition, getting enough sleep also has a lot of health benefits for the body. Therefore experts recommend that you sleep seven to nine hours every night for optimal body and brain health.
Limit drinking alcoholic beverages
Alcoholic beverages not only damage health but also have a negative impact on memory. Research shows that alcohol has a neurotoxic effect on the brain. Especially if you are accustomed to consuming it excessively.
This bad habit can actually damage the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that plays an important role in memory. For this reason, so that health and memory are maintained, it's good to not only limit but avoid this one drink.
Reducing sugar intake
Reducing sugar intake may be one way to sharpen memories that are not widely known. Research shows that consuming too much sugar can worsen memory and reduce brain volume, especially in areas that store short-term memory.
The study, conducted on more than 4,000 people, found that people who often consume sweet drinks such as soda have a smaller total brain volume and worse memory. Therefore, reduce sugar intake from food and beverages that you consume daily for the better memory of old age.