Mara Dierssen –neurobiologistexpert in brain plasticity and president of Spanish Brain Council– has been dedicated to researching the cognitive impairment and the Alzheimer’s.
As a kick-off, this Spanish university professor distinguishes, as cited by La Vanguardia: “A normal forgetfulness It’s an everyday thing, like forgetting where you left your keys. He cognitive impairmenthowever, goes further. what we call mild cognitive impairment reflects a real deficit in the mental functions. Although in the first stage it does not seriously affect the autonomy of the person, it can be a step towards dementia”.
Furthermore, to debunk the most frequent myths, in the same note, as the Spanish website of the Brain Council, Dierssen He emphasized: “The memory leak It is not inevitable. Over time, some biological processes affect the brain plasticitybut its impact varies from person to person.”
«The genetics plays a role, but what really makes the difference is how we have take care of our brain throughout life. Maintain a active mind y healthy “It helps maintain mental agility even at advanced ages.”
He also maintains, as another of his innovative concepts, that the brain maintains a great capacity for changeeven in advanced ages. That is, it can be activated through the learning, creativity or social relationships.
Do you have to exercise your brain?
Regarding the idea that the brain It is a muscle and it is necessary to exercise it to avoid deterioration, Dierssen He doesn’t agree so much.
“It doesn’t convince me at all, since the brain is much more complex than a muscle. Although, like the muscles«You need activity to stay in shape, its functioning is much more sophisticated,» he said in the La Vanguardia article.
«More than exercise it like a musclewhat you really need is a stimulating and emotionally meaningful environment to keep your plasticity and function optimally over time.”
Some information to keep in mind: The brain is made up of around 86 billion neurons. that communicate with each other, creating networks that allow us to think, feel, remember and move.
An also important point is that exercising memory “as before” is essential to maintain its functions.
Among the suggestions he provided Dierssen Telva includes the following: memorize routes without GPSlooking for references and being aware of where to go; perform activities that involve using other senses -like eating or showering with eyes closed or ears covered, trying to recognize shapes or textures-; and take on brain-challenging games.
An alternative exercise that is also valid is to say a multi-digit number out loud (1987, for example), repeat it, and then say it backwards, starting from the last one to the first (7-8-9-1).
These exercises encourage brain plasticity by activating different areas and strengthening neuronal connections.
Creativity does not age
Another of the concepts that promotes Dierssen is that the creativity He has no age. It is a human capacity that accompanies us throughout life. Although it is difficult to measure it scientifically, we know that activities such as music, painting or writing stimulate the brain in a very powerful way.
“Music, in particular, has an intense impact, both emotionally and cerebral. Therefore, cultivating creativity It is also a way to take care of the mind, at any stage of life.”
