Texoma Living Well Magazine Spring 2015 | Page 15

Maintaining Your Brain 4 Steps to fight age-related cognitive decline… I Courtesy LearningRx n the 1990s, researchers learned the truth about plasticity – the brain’s ability to birth new neurons at any age. Where once brain researchers had focused on repairing old cells, they now turned their attention towards creating newer, healthier ones. For those with memory loss, mental decline and le arning disabilities, the findings were beyond remarkable. The research made its way to the public relatively quickly, creating a near tidal wave of both products that worked (like personal brain training), and many that didn’t (“miracle brain pills”). Despite the hype, legitimate sources like the Alzheimer’s Association agree that there are four realistic approaches to maintaining a healthy brain as one ages. These include: • Mental activity • Social activity • Physical activity • Proper diet Mental activity For an average person, doing word games at home is a great way to strengthen cognitive skills and maintain the brain, but for those who are experiencing more serious age-related mental decline, LearningRx provides intense, one-on-one cognitive skills training. “Many of our students have come to our center because a grandparent noticed the chil