How to tell if you are really learning a language:
Today was a significant day here in Queretaro on my Mexican Adventure in that something occurred and I didn't really realize it until about an hour after it happened. Yes, it's been raining for days now and that is a very rare event during this time of year, let alone for days on end, but that's not what I'm talking about here.
I was actually thinking in Spanish...!
The reason this is notable, at least to me, is that it is when our brains are creating new neuron pathways on a large scale - the brain is literally being re-wired. This point of brain (re)development is where we start to counter the effects of aging by adhering to some basic principles spelled-out to me a few years ago.
How to tell when you are in the presence of greatness:
My friend Paul Winner, a leading neurologist studying the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's, dementia/memory loss and other types of neurodegenerative disorders, extols the importance of keeping the brain fit the same way that we should keep our bodies fit with exercise.
He gave a presentation at our last symposium that was really monumental to the event and I think everyone came away with a whole new appreciation for 'brain science' and how to make real changes in out lives that would create a real impact long-term.
He approached the microphone with the same basic questions as we normally do, however Eben Pagan, the host of the symposium, weeded-out some core issues with Paul and he struck gold when they delved into Dr. Winner's professional efforts. Paul spoke for the next 15 minutes and gave an impromptu presentation of his lab's research at that time - I think it rattled the entire room to the foundation, and I am not exaggerating this point; any of my friends reading the blog who were there can corroborate this. When he finished his synopsis, the Sheraton LAX ballroom erupted into wild applause from both a deeply receptive and appreciative audience.
To see it for yourself, google "eben pagan leadership symposium" and you should be able to find some of the event, hopefully Paul is a featured speaker (found a pic with Eben and one of his surfer-dude marketing gurus, lol - kidding bro!).
Anyway, to save you the time trying to ply out the meat & potatoes of it all, Paul gave some specific examples of how the brain dies and also, how it can be kept fit. He spoke of several examples of people he had studied over his career who were able to maintain a high degree of mental alertness, (similar to that of people of university age), well into their 90's and beyond!
He and his team had spent many years looking closely at not only the physiology of these people, but also their behaviors. While some possessed special traits that allowed their impressive faculty, the vast majority of them had developed habits that proved to be the source of their unusual mental resiliency.
How to tell if you are keeping a 'fit' brain:
(The rules for a life-long healthy brain - seriously, write these down and post them on the fridge!)
I took the liberty of putting these 'rules' into an easy to remember format that I refer to constantly. I hope it helps any of you interested in this area of human development and aging, as I have noticed a difference in my own lucidity and mental agility in maintaining as much of it as I can over the last few years.
- Travel - visit a completely new place in the world at least once a year and take-in as much as you can absorb; paying close attention to new sights, sounds and smells.
- Speak - learn a new language (to the point of thinking in it...!) every ten years
- Switch - be sure to often change the hands that you use for things like shaving, combing your hair brushing your teeth... even playing table tennis!
- Walk - exercise at least 3 times a week, and just walking is super-powerful in fighting the big 'A' ; there is a deep connection between physical and mental activity.
- Play - learn to play an instrument, or sing, (or both...!). If you know how to play an instrument already, learn another!
- Do - if you do crosswords, do Sudoku (or just mentally try to count your change before the cashier can tell you). If you're addicted to Sudoku, open up to the Sunday Crosswords. We need to do BOTH word and numerical exercises often, and puzzles can be a great method of stretching the sides of the brain.
- Live - work hard to experience and understand new things, ideas, tastes, and even paradigms often. Your brain will thank you each time.
I hope this is as valuable as it was to me.
http://www.drwinner.org/
Remember:
"if you don't use and develop it, it dies!"
f
