These habits are not only fun but could even lower your risk of developing dementia later in life.
A neurologist has revealed the four things he’ll “never stop doing” to keep his brain healthy in old age. According to the expert, these habits are not only fun but could even lower your risk of developing dementia later in life.
US-based neurologist Doctor Baibing Chen, who is best known online as Dr Bing, explained more in a video uploaded to his Instagram. Speaking to his more than 80,000 followers he revealed that some of these steps have been scientifically proven to slow the onset of dementia by years.
“As a neurologist, here are four things I’ll never stop doing for better brain health,” he said. These things are learning a new language, playing an instrument, hiking, and dancing.]
Learning a new language
His first suggestion was learning a new language and building your vocabulary. This is because the brain “loves to be challenged”.
Dr Bing said: “Learning a language engages multiple areas of the brain. It also builds cognitive reserve and increases connectivity between different brain regions.
“All of which help the brain adapt to ageing and fight conditions like dementia. In fact, research has shown that bilingual individuals can delay dementia by four to five years.”
The research referenced by Dr Bing was published in Neuropsychologia journal in 2007. Study authors wrote: “The bilinguals showed symptoms of dementia four years later than monolinguals, all other measures being equivalent.”
Dancing
According to research, dancing could help reduce the risk of dementia by as much as 76 percent. A dancer himself, Dr Bing added: “Dancing combines movement, coordination, and rhythm making it one of the most effective exercises for brain health.
“Studies have shown that regular dancing can reduce the risk of dementia by up to 76 percent, making it one of the most efficient activities that you can do for dementia prevention.” He referenced a study from The New England Journal of Medicine in 2003.
Study authors said: “Among leisure activities, reading, playing board games, playing musical instruments, and dancing were associated with a reduced risk of dementia.”
Playing a musical instrument
Music is often considered an artistic pursuit but, as Dr Bing pointed out, it could have major health benefits. “Playing music stimulates nearly every part of the brain and it requires focus, coordination, rhythm and creativity,” he said.
“It also promotes neuroplasticity, which is the ability of the brain to adapt and grow. Studies have shown that musicians often have stronger neural connections and are better at multitasking and problem-solving.”
In the captions, he pointed to a study published in The Neuroscientist journal in 2010. This concluded that music making has the potential “as an interactive treatment or intervention for neurological and developmental disorders, as well as those associated with normal ageing”.
Hiking
Both the act of physical walking and getting outside into nature could benefit the brain. “I love hiking and it actually offers a two-fold benefit for brain health,” Dr Bing continued.
“The physical activity increases blood flow to the brain and promotes release of chemicals that help grow and protect brain cells. At the same time, research has shown that being in nature and exposure to greenery can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve mood.”
But he offered a word of caution: “However, having treated many patients with mosquito-borne and tick-borne illnesses, I’m always careful and I always use insect repellent and check for ticks after my hikes.”
Research, published in PNAS journal in 2015, found that walking in nature was important for the brain. It concluded: “This study reveals a pathway by which nature experience may improve mental well-being and suggests that accessible natural areas within urban contexts may be a critical resource for mental health in our rapidly urbanizing world.”
