Brain Power

The brain begins to shrink around an increased rate after 60, according to studies cited by the Mayo Clinic Press. The shrinkage can impact memory, processing speed, decision-making, and learning. Trauma and injury can result in additional loss of brain cells.

Neuroplasticity offers a chance of recovery for cells and functions. This brain plasticity forms connections, or neural pathways, between neurons, which are essentially messengers that taxi information from one part of the brain to the next. Like with a phone call, the stronger the connection, the more information can be communicated and the quicker we can comprehend.

As we age, so do our neurons, resulting in loss of plasticity over time. But these pathways can be recovered. As they say, practice makes perfect, and the best way to practice strengthening neuroplasticity is by exercising our brains.

So how should we be working on our neuroplasticity? And what are the implications if we don’t?

RESPECT BEDTIME

A 2021 study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found, with nine years of research, that adults aged 50-plus who slept six hours or less per night were at higher risk for dementia later in life. Sleep is essential in the short-term, too. An article from the University of Utah School of Medicine notes that a worthy sleep, seven hours or more, offers a slew of immediate benefits. A good night’s rest can serve as of immediate benefits. A good night’s rest can serve as a mental reset, with the aglymphatic system dumping waste products that accumulate during the day. Memory consolidation tasks are also happening while we sleep, and when we’re well rested, we’re more likely to perform well cognitively. This means we’re better equipped for that big test or brainstorming our next creative project.

Photo Kaki Kirk Courtesy of Drip Drop Fitness

TRY SOMETHING NEW

Another NIH study shows that experiencing new things enhances our ability to learn flexibly and adaptively by resetting key brain circuits. Researchers trained two groups of mice to navigate a maze using a singular route. The maze would bring one group to a new space and the other to a familiar one. The mice were then required to perform a spatial task in perform a spatial task in which they were rewarded if they chose a new navigation strategy.

Results showed that the group that had experienced the new space were more likely to overcome their familiarity bias and use new navigational methods. By studying brain activity in the mice, researchers found that neuronal fi ring mechanisms—which play a key role in learning and memory—were also strengthened in these mice.

The study suggests similar results for humans who step outside of their comfort zone. This could be something as simple as taking a different route home from work or making a new friend. It could also be something bigger, like traveling to a new region or country or climbing a mountain for the first time.

BOREDOM

While novelty can improve brain health and bring joy, boredom proves a detriment to our well-being. More than a trivial emotion, chronic boredom has direct negative effects. According to an article published by the NIH, boredom can result in decreased productivity, poor mental health, self-harm, and substance use. The article notes a 2015 study that tested students on a boredom scale as well as a depression scale. Results showed a strong correlation between frequent boredom and increased depression.

It’s okay to experience boredom in small doses. The feeling, when fleeting, can even be productive, often giving our minds the break it needs to think new things. So let your mind wander just enough to find inspiration—and then get out there and try something new.

Photo by Dave Barfield

WHAT TO DO & WHERE TO GO

➸ BECOME A LIFELONG LEARNER with local programs at the Tallahassee Senior Center. Classes are open to adults and offered in a variety of areas, including creative writing, foreign languages (French, Spanish, and German), emergency safety, and scam prevention. talgov.com/seniors/keeplearning Florida State University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Center also off ers classes and programs to adult learners at all stages of life. olli.fsu.edu

➸ ENROLL IN CLASSES at Tallahassee State College (TSC). You can enroll as a non-degree seeking student and take desired courses just for fun. TSC offers a catalog of stimulating educational courses ranging from foreign languages and history to art and anthropology. They also off er vocational certificates in trade fields like HVAC and electrical.tsc.fl.edu

➸ SWITCH UP YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE with an in-person class.

▪ Drip Drop Fitness offers dance cardio, pilates, and circuit-style classes seven days a week. dripdropfitness.com

▪ Tallahassee Senior Center offers classes covering aerobics and strength training, balance and fall prevention, yoga and mindful movement, and outdoor hiking. tallahasseeseniorfoundation.org/fitness-class

▪ Try aligning mind, body, and spirit with a Tai Chi session. taoisttaichi.org/locations/tallahassee

▪ Get empowered with a Queen of Hearts Fitness pole dancing routine. queenofheartsfitness.com

➸ TRY AN ACTIVE HOBBY that gets you outdoors. Tom Brown and Jack L. McLean Jr. Parks are equipped with 24-hole disc golf courses to challenge any skill level. Indoor and outdoor pickleball courts across Tallahassee beckon you to join America’s fastest-growing sport. Break out the roller skates you bought during the pandemic, or try your hand at skateboarding and hit up the Mike Blankenship Skate Park on Jackson Bluff Road. talgov.com/parks/sports

➸ JOIN A LOCAL CLUB and get social. Tallahassee has a variety of groups gathering for favorite hobbies and interests.

▪ If you’re a movie buff , the Tallahassee Film Society might be right for you. tallahasseefilms.com

▪ Are you a collector of model trains or interested in getting started? Check out the Big Bend Model Railroad Association. bbmra.club

▪ If starry nights call to you, then the Tallahassee Astronomical Society is the group for you. nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/clubs/tas1156/home

▪ If you have trouble getting out of the house because you can’t put your book down, then a book club might be the right place to start.midtownreader.com/bookclubs