Training our brains - essential at every age
01/10/2006
New research from Learning and Skills Council (LSC) reveals that people do not realise how early the brain function begins to deteriorate and are not doing enough to keep their brains healthy.
While 56 per cent of people think the brain does not begin to decline until age 45 or later, expert medical opinion claims deterioration can set in as early as 18 years of age.
The research revealed a ‘brain training gap’ as 55 per cent acknowledge the need to train the brain even more so than the body (28 per cent), yet thousands are doing nothing, not enough - or the wrong sort of exercise.
Also, it appears that many believe their brain function is in decline. 30 per cent felt their brain had deteriorated in the last two years and 57 per cent thought their brain had declined in the last five years.
Ray Dowd from the LSC who commissioned the research, said: “The results show a lack of awareness about the benefits of structured learning, which is one of the best ways to ensure that the brain remains challenged and stimulated at any age.”
Further statistics revealed that:
- 32 per cent of people do not take any exercise to stimulate the brain
- 62 per cent of people choose watching television as a way to stimulate their brain, yet the ‘passive’ stimulation that television provides means people are bypassing more effective activities that will have greater long term benefits
- 32 per cent of people spend between £20 and £100 per month on their body yet 18% of people spend nothing at all on their brain
- 68 per cent of people believe ad hoc learning is more beneficial than structured learning with only 17 per cent of people choosing evening classes as a form of brain training
Professor Ian Robertson, Professor of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin commented on the research, saying; “Exercising your brain is essential if you want to stop it from slowly deteriorating. Our brains need to be stimulated and challenged through ongoing learning in the same way as our bodies need to be kept fit.
"Just as our muscles grow as we exercise them, so do our brains physically strengthen as we learn. Continually refreshing your skills and knowledge is important at every stage and age in life and the benefits that will be seen will last an entire lifetime.”
According to medical experts, earning a new skill, such as speaking a foreign language or taking an evening class is one of the most effective ways to stimulate the brain as it challenges the memory, attention and thinking centres in a comprehensive fashion.
The more education and training a person has in their life, the more densely connected are their brain cells and brains with better connected cells work faster and better.
For further information on the research visit the website linked below.