By Jonathan Galland
Here at Pill Advised we are very interested in all the exciting research being done on the important topic of keeping the brain healthy as we age.
From nutrition and exercise, to memory training and speaking two languages, we are learning more about positive steps to take that could help maintain brain health. (Learn about nutrition and the brain in Anti Inflammatory Foods Reduce Memory Loss)
Even surfing the internet could help, according to a fascinating study.
Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles have found that internet searching can boost brain activity in middle-aged and older adults, but only for the web-savvy. According to the UCLA study, searching triggers decision-making and complex reasoning.
“Our most striking finding was that Internet searching appears to engage a greater extent of neural circuitry that is not activated during reading—but only those with prior Internet experience.” said Dr. Gary Small, a professor at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.
Researchers measured brain activity of volunteers while searching the internet and found that web-savvy volunteers had a twofold increase in brain activity compared to those with little internet experience.
“With more time on the internet, they (the less web-savvy) may demonstrate the same brain activation patterns as the more experienced group.” noted Dr. Small. (Discover the Benefits of Walking for Brain Health)
Additional studies will look at both the positive and negative impacts of technology on the brain.
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Source: UCLA
