For Patients
Aging Begins at 30
Brain Exercise
Ian Maclean Smith, M.D.
Emeritus Professor
Department of Internal Medicine
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Creation Date: March 2001
Last Revision Date: March 2001
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
My health care provider sent me a health education booklet. One of the articles said "Inspire Your Brain." The anonymous author says, "Either you put your brain to good use, or it will lose its power."
He or she continues,
- "Read, read and read some more." I read 3 to 8 scientific articles a week and 4 to 6 books a month.
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"Play scrabble." I do that 5 times a week and also Chinese checkers (the Chinese way).
-
"Do crossword puzzles." I do 1 to 3 a day.
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"Learn a new language." The best I've done there is bought CDs and a book on Scottish Gaelic but I've made no progress.
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"Take up a new hobby." Travel, but that's not new. Nor is diary and memoir writing. Should I take up knitting. I did that in first grade. Maybe it would suit me.
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"Try new things that require your brain to think." That I can relate to. I have 4 papers that I never finished. I'm working on one now, but my three co-authors are dead and the first planning document is missing. As a friend said "You have the answer, but what is the question?" My brain is thinking hard on this poser.
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"Cut back on TV." Yes I need to do that, but I mostly watch educational type shows on public TV.
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"Eat healthy." I eat a rounded diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables, but somewhat high on fat--but with a statin drug, my cholesterol is much better than it was.
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"Stay physically active." Yes but I could do a lot more.
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"Avoid excessive alcohol use." I think we are if anything undernourished there as my wife and I share a glass of wine about twice a month.
Then the unknown author tells us about improving our memory by keeping chores, errands, appointments, and where we keep things organized especially with the use of lists.
Section Top | Title Page
See related Patient Topics Brain and Nervous System, Memory, Mental Health and Behavior or Seniors' Health.
See related Provider Topics Brain and Nervous System, Memory, Mental Health and Behavior or Seniors' Health.
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