Intellectual Activities

According to the “Nature” article as we grow older our brain losses mass, as well as the ability to perform high on task that include working memory. However in recent studies, researchers have found that exercising can increase cognitive functioning, specifically tasks involving executive control processes. In an aerobic fitness training study on aging results concluded an increase and both gray and white matter, which are key components in memory and cognitive function overall. Also physically active people showed fewer signs of brain shrinkage and deterioration.

In the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, in comparison with intellectual activities such as reading and playing minds games, researchers continue to praise exercising as a way to better brain health; inferring that “exercise increases circulation in the body and helps bring more oxygen and other needed substances to the brain. When you exercise, hormones such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine are released. These hormones respectively affects moods, learning, attention, perception etc. Therefore those who stay physically active, in the long run, sustain brain health. According to the WSJ article, the participants that showed higher levels of physically activity throughout their lifetime had more brain mass and less brain damage.

Although not conclusive, researches also believe that mental exercise games can slow brain aging. Researchers have found that cognitive training games (i.e. Double Decision) can hinder and in some cases reverse declining brain function. According to the WSJ article on brain games, results from the “ACTIVE” study showed that after performing these mental games over an extended period, there was significant increase in cognitive ability. Participants showed improvements in memory, reasoning and daily activities. As for crossword puzzles, all articles conveyed the same message: they’re no use. In fact, in the WSJ article on brain games, participants