How to exercise your brain? Prevent dementia

Before We Start Brain Exercise

Understanding How Our Brain Works

Our brain is responsible for receiving, processing, storing, and distributing information to various parts of the brain for further processing and long-term storage. The hippocampus is a part of the brain that plays a crucial role in storing memories formed from past experiences and perceptions received through different sensory systems, including sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.

Novel experiences can stimulate the brain more than usual. When we learn new things, our brain cells and neural networks are activated, leading to the formation of new connections and branches. Therefore, brain exercise involves engaging in activities that specifically stimulate the brain's sensory areas, memory, and higher cognitive functions.

Here are 7 ways to exercise your brain and prevent cognitive decline

• Walk backwards instead of forwards.
• Count backwards.
• Use both hands. Find activities that require hand coordination, such as sewing or gardening, to stimulate both hemispheres of the brain.
• Talk to new people. This exposes your brain to new information, including facial features, voice, and personality traits.
• Change your commute. The new sights, sounds, and smells of a new route will stimulate your brain to create a new map.
• Listen and smell with your eyes closed. Focus on music or try to identify different scents by smell alone to train your listening and smelling skills.
• Play with clay. This stimulates the sense of touch and provides sensory input.