Just like any other body part, the brain needs exercise for optimal health and wellness. Unless you have a medical condition such as Alzheimer's disease, which causes degeneration of brain and neural tissues, or other similar dementia-related diagnoses, your brain is as capable of learning when you're in your 80s as it is when you're in your 20s.
Right and left brain exercises, also called neurobics, help the brain stay stimulated, active and engaged. Such stimulation constantly creates new pathways through the brain that enhance processing speed, understanding, coordination and reasoning skills.
Opposites Attract
A great exercise for the right and left hemisphere of the brain is to surprise it once in a while. For example, if you're right-handed, try brushing your teeth with your left hand, advises Neurobics.com. If you're left-handed, try writing or drawing with your right hand. Such activities keep the brain stimulated and create new circuitry, as well as encourage the production of neurotrophin, necessary for brain cell growth and development.
Multitask
Challenge both sides of your brain at the same time by multitasking. For example, Neurobics suggests getting dressed or tying your shoes with your eyes closed. Such tasks help strengthen and develop other sensory skills besides vision, such as your hearing, sense of touch, balance and orientation. Switch your computer mouse to the other side of the computer, or use the remote control for your television with your non-dominant hand.
Learn New Things
Learning a new skill or activity such as a language utilizes the right and left brain. Games that stimulate visual, thinking and reasoning skills also exercise both hemispheres of the brain, according to The Franklin Institute. Reading, doing crossword puzzles or participating verbally with online or televised game programs or shows also helps stimulate the brain, increase reasoning capabilities and boost cognitive function.
Go for a Walk
Walking is an excellent exercise for the brain, according to The Franklin Institute, which has engaged in studies that state individuals, especially senior citizens, who walk on a regular basis show improved memory and reasoning capabilities. Walking is also a physical exercise that helps maintain cardiovascular function, which provides the brain with blood- and nutrient-enriched oxygen, leading to optimal cell growth and development.
Play Video Games
Video games engage all areas of the brain in a process called cognitive stimulation, according to Dr. Daniel Gopher of the Technion Institute of Science and Sharp Brains. Memory, hand-eye coordination and reason skills are developed through a variety of video games and video game scenarios where reasoning and strategy development are vital to winning.
