Prolong the possible onset of Dimentia or Alzheimer's by stimulating your brain with exercises and rote activities. Change up your routine so it's not a routine!
As your brain thinks about a single idea new neural networks start getting created. And as your brain associates this idea with other concepts and ideas in its memory banks, more new neural networks, connections and pathways are being created making your brain cells grow. Although we cannot prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s we can prolong it with Brain Exercises - LET’S WATCH A VIDEO EXPLAINING HOW THE BRAIN WORKS. (play video)
“cognitive reserve” – the combination of two things: a person’s innate abilities and additional brainpower that comes from challenging the mind. Diverse, mentally stimulating tasks result in more brain cells, more robust connections among those cells, and a greater ability to bypass disease related trouble spots in the brain. The more you work your mind, the greater your cognitive reserve. COGNITIVE: Cognition is the scientific term for "the process of thought ." Usage of the term varies in different disciplines; for example in psychology and cognitive science , it usually refers to an information processing view of an individual's psychological functions . Other interpretations of the meaning of cognition link it to the development of concepts ; individual minds, groups, and organizations. Information processing, conceptual resources EXERCISE: Synapses (electrical link) Let’s pretend that we are inside the brain and we are the neurons. The space between you is where the synapses, the electrical charge, occurs. I am going to show a group a picture and each person in the group is to give me a thought that the picture triggers. (use the pictures) All the thoughts together will comprise one person’s brain.
Attend Social Events Find a walking partner and talk. You’ll get exercise and social connection! Board Games, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Cards Interactive games
NOVELTY - Your brain loves variety, and can get sluggish with 'sameness'. Since your brain thinks by association with other concepts and ideas, you constantly need to feed it newer experiences, ideas and concepts to help your neurons to grow and flourish. Hence if you keep doing the same things over and over again everyday of your life with no change of pace, rhythm or schedule, you will not be helping your brain to form new neural pathways. And the sameness of your life will kind of 'drug your brain', resulting in its slowing down. Hence you constantly need to do new things. Experience new things. See new things. Bring variety into your life. Thus if you have been doing the same old - same old brain fitness exercise for long , you need to change. Experience something new. UNDERUSED SENSES - Our 5 senses are the portals, or gateways, through which the brain gets its entire contact with the outside world. We rely mostly on our vision and hearing because they tell us quickly a lot about our environment. Our other senses – smell, taste, and touch – are less frequently called upon. Close your eyes and instantly the world around you changes drastically – sounds, smells, and spatial memories of your physical surrounding leap into consciousness. Association – (putting a name with a face, a smell with a food) are the building blocks of memory and the basis of how we learn. Brain exercises should include all 5 senses to enhance associations. Creating new associative patterns is a central part of Brain Exercise Cognitive Reserve – the combination of a person’s innate abilities and the additional brainpower that comes from challenging the mind. Studies show that diverse, mentally stimulating tasks result in more brain cells, more robust connections among those cells, and a greater ability to bypass age related troubled spots in the brain. The more you work your mind the greater your cognitive reserve. The greater your reserve, the greater your ability to withstand the inevitable challenges of aging. Working your mind increases cognitive reserve – Does watching TV increase cognitive awareness?
Learn a new language Meditate Be creative – Paint, write a diary, visit new websites, or build your own Start of Day – What is your current routine? Start with a different scent: vanilla, citrus, peppermint or rosemary Get dressed with eyes closed: use tactile association. Layout your clothes and feel the fabrics for pants, socks, shirt… Enter and get ready to start your car with your eyes closed. Using touch and spatial memory, find the correct key on your keychain, unlock the car door, slide into the seat, buckle your seat belt, insert the key into the ignition, and locate familiar controls: radio, lights, windshield wiper. Volunteer to answer questions at the library, arboretum, museum, or hospital. Look Around – When walking, don’t just keep your eyes forward. Scan to the left and to the right. These actions activate rarely used part of the brain. Switch Hands – write your name with your non-dominant hand, write your name backwards with non-dominant hand, write the mirror image of your name with non-dominant hand, brush your teeth with non-dominant hand Puzzles – (Ask for examples)
Other Centers have brain fitness classes
Look at the picture for 5 seconds Close your eyes. KEEP YOUR EYES CLOSED and then name as many of the fruits as possible.
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ACTIVITIES: Find a partner, preferably someone you do not know. One is the interviewer and the other the interviewee. You need to decide who will be conducting the interview The person being interviewed will introduce themself to their partner and give a very brief interesting story. The person conducting the interview will try to remember as much information. I will then ask for volunteer interviewers to present their partner to the class. You only have a few minutes. Only one person is giving information Now with the same partner, switch roles. This time the interviewer closes their eyes as you listen to your partner introduce themselves to you. You will experience it the interview completely different. Ask for 5 volunteer to play “Remember the story” . A woman wearing a long, purple coat entered the lobby of Long Beach Memorial and asked the receptionist where was room 225. The receptionist said on the 3 rd floor straight down the hall. The woman in the purple coat entered the room and there was a large orangutan on the bed draped in a red sheet, smoking a cigar. He turned to the woman and said: “Play it again, Sam”