It’s easy to take our brain for granted.
The organ’s plasticity means that throughout our lives, the brain continues to make new neurons to keep us mentally sharp. Well into our elder years, we have the ability to learn and adapt, with each grain of knowledge we possess acting as a foundation on which we foster new experience.
It is truly remarkable, but the feature comes with a catch: to keep the brain in optimal conditional, you have to keep it active.
You might think you are doing enough to keep your mind inspired, but that’s not necessarily the case. Studies such as this one on normal cognitive ageing have found that the average person stops challenging their brains in their third decade of life (i.e. 20-29), and are in steady decline from that point.
This is a reaction to modern culture, which has implemented science, education and technology to take the mental challenge out of life. Rarely are many of us confounded by anything that takes more mental acuity to overcome than the ability to conduct a Google search. Even then, we only click on the first relevant link and scroll down to the solution. We don’t need to understand if the answer’s right there!
The result is that our cognitive process gets messy. As it is easier to learn the bass when you already play electric guitar, or can adapt to rugby union if you’re skilled at rugby league, so too the opposite is true. If you have not built strong links – through challenge and experience – to keep your knowledge in tact, it will scatter, and dip out of focus.
So what’s the solution?
It’s simple: throw yourself in the deep end. Yes, it’s important to have support from other sources if you’re going to drown, but ultimately you are the one who needs to learn how to swim. Challenge yourself.
Of course, challenge doesn’t just mean difficulty; it also means learning to adapt. Socialise with people of different backgrounds, and learn from them. Even when times get busy, stay connected; interaction is key.
Pick up a hobby, or take a class. Read a book, or write one. Sew. Build. Listen. Learn.
When that’s all done, slow down, and appreciate the calm. Relax and reflect.
Then do it all over again.
It’s never too late. Your brain may have cut back on neuron production, but it’s always ready to pick up the pace anew.