Cognitive exercises, which are responsible for stimulating various brain functions, such as memory, cognition, language, attention and executive functions, are a great way to keep your brain always active — or “in motion,” if you prefer.
“Just as physical exercise improves our bodies in general, cognitive exercise improves brain function. And it shouldn’t be done only by children, who are still developing, as many believe. As we advance, neuropsychologist Barbara Calmeto, director of the Autonomia Instituto, explains. In age, we have had to maintain a routine of activities that make our minds work.Here are some tips on how to perform these exercises daily:
Meditation: Meditation involves focusing attention in a calm and disciplined manner;
Play: Play helps reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in the elderly;
– solving crossword puzzles: this practice helps delay the onset of memory decline in people with preclinical dementia;
Socializing: people who have frequent social contact are less likely to suffer from cognitive decline and dementia;
– improve vocabulary: when reading a book or watching a program, write down any unfamiliar words and look up their meaning in the dictionary;
Use your non-dominant hand: In addition to being challenging, using the hand opposite the hand you normally use can be a great way to increase brain activity. (from the newsroom)
