Brain Work Vs. Aerobic Exercise

Develop new neural connections in your brain with a comprehensive approach incorporating specific tasks for the brain and traditional aerobic exercise. Neurobics is the term used by scientists to describe intentional "brain work" aimed at continued mental fitness, strength and flexibility throughout the aging process, according to authors Lawrence Katz and Manning Rubin in their book "Keep Your Brain Alive." Traditional aerobic exercise is also a key to strengthening and maintaining healthy brain function.

History

Addressing brain fitness is relatively new to science. Katz and Manning say that prior to the late 1990s, the majority of scientists believed that brain cells were only regenerated during childhood. In fact, adult brains of all ages can generate new brain cells. According to an article in the June 2002 edition of the Smithsonian magazine, biologist Fernando Nottebohm's discovery that male songbirds grow new nerve cells in their brain annually led to clinical studies proving human brains can do the same with the proper stimulation, such as regular, aerobic exercise and neurobic activities.

Significance

Cover all the bases to ensure that your brain gets the stimulation it needs to function optimally throughout your life. Aerobic exercise benefits the brain as it conditions the heart. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, aerobic exercise primarily enhances that part of the brain in charge of planning, scheduling, working memory and multi-tasking. A 2008 pilot study funded by the CDC found that individuals who train with intention on specific cognitive skills, such as brain games, gained a significant advantage with tasks such as driving, managing money and problem solving.

Types

Jump into a daily aerobic activity that fits your age and physical abilities. Brisk walking, dancing, swimming, jumping on a trampoline and bike riding are exercises that generate healthy aerobic activity. Activate the right and left hemispheres of the brain with targeted actions that challenge the brain in new and imaginative ways, such as learning to play a musical instrument or a new game with social interaction such as the card game Bridge. Learn to play a fast-paced computer game with a friend, grandchild or sibling. According to cognition neuroscientist Joe Hardy, creator of brain-training programs, the key aspect of exercise for the brain is doing new things.

Benefits

Play games involving strategy and multi-tasking to benefit the brain by enhancing creativity and rapid-thinking processes, improving concentration and memory, and increasing musical aptitude and intuition, according to the experts at Learning RX. Get out of your comfort zone now to gain the ultimate benefits later. Washington Post staff writer Shankar Vedantam reported in a Jan. 2, 2007, article that early indications seem to suggest that regular mental exercise may delay cognitive decline and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia.