Brain shrinks faster when not in use
By Tamara McLean
July 14, 2008 02:44pm
Article from: AAP
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...-29277,00.html
THE brain shrinks faster if it is not stimulated, Australian researchers say.
Brain scans have revealed that people who do not engage in complex mental activity over their lifetime have twice the shrinkage in a key part of the brain in old age.
The finding sheds more light on the link between lifestyle and dementia, and adds strength to the evidence that mental gymnastics, like puzzles and new languages, stave off ageing diseases.
"We've got strong evidence here that people who use their brains more have less brain shrinkage," said Michael Valenzuela of the school of psychiatry at the University of NSW.
"I hope people take this as a further call to arms to get out there and use their brains, get engaged in anything from tai chi to world travel, in the knowledge that it may help delay or prevent the onset of dementia."
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