La SEN encouraged this Christmas give away of brain ”.
gifts that enhance cognitive reserve, promote social relations or to be intended to promote physical exercise or the Mediterranean diet, are the recommendations of the Spanish Neurology society when it comes to thinking about possible gifts both for children and adults.
Spain, December of 2011- the brain is one of the most important organs of our body, however, we do not devote enough time to exercise it. Given that at this time many people are looking for possible gifts for your family and friends, the Sociedad Española de NeurologÃa (SEN) and the brain Foundation (CTF) want to take advantage to encourage to make this year a gift that will stimulate the brain.
Thinking both in gifts for adults as for children, it is important that you wager by those that stimulate brain activity and to keep the person mentally active: reading, writing, board games, manual activities, … are a very appropriate way to stimulate brain functions and increase our cognitive reserve strengthening neural connections and keeping them young.
Adults that exercising the brain experience a minor cognitive impairment or do realize later. In addition there are various studies that relate the cognitive reserve with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s or other dementias ”, says Dr. Pablo Martinez-Lage Ãlvarez, Coordinator of the study group of behaviors and dementia of the society Spanish of Neurology. addition, childhood is a privileged period to exercise the brain connections, and the game has an essential place. As the game is in the minds of children, the more singles are toys, more is exercised the imagination. It is important to promote games table or outdoor in sharing rules, take turns, pay attention to changing environments, exercise motor skills, used memory and argumentative language, and rewards the effort. To interest children in reading it is necessary to read them enough, showing them that the books contain descriptions and exciting narratives; This stimulates them to introduce texts on their own ”, says Dr. John Narbonne GarcÃa, Neuropediatra of the society Spanish of Neurology.
It is also important to bet on those gifts that enhance social and emotional, to prevent isolation or solitary confinement or relationships that serve us to eliminate stress. And, of course, all those gifts which incite us to exercise some sort of physical activity on a regular basis or eating a balanced diet ”, explains Dr. Carlos Tejero Juste, Member of the society Spanish of Neurology.
But above all, you need our brains should be that what we surprised, that we learn of our routine, let us present you fun and unexpected developments, new challenges and new emotions. And what better way to achieve this through a good gift ”, says Dr. David a. Perez, Director of the foundation of the brain.
Some ideas of brain-healthy gifts
1 Books: Reading and writing are probably the most beneficial for our brain activities. But just as important is reading that diversify the readings. That is why a book to do it on a new subject, which will allow us to imagine new worlds or become experts of something new, may be the best gift. The same applies to the stories which allows children to learn to sort ideas, interrelated concepts and remembering. In addition, the reading will be even more beneficial if it is accompanied by reflection, in association with the life of its own read or generate interesting stories to tell them to the other.
2 Games: The games allow excite and challenge to the brain. The sudokus, crosswords, puzzles, puzzles, the mecanos, building games … improve cerebral agility and the ability to reason. But in addition, the table games such as chess, checkers, dominoes, cards, … allow social interaction. Must bet on those games that are based in logic, strategy, spatial vision, memory, and verbal skills, math, etc.
3 Travel: Any change in the routine helps the brain to develop your spatial memory and what better way to do that by visiting a place that never have been before. The search for new routes, memorize new directions and above all, the alteration of our daily routine, will activate our brain. But in addition, curiosity about new things around us will keep the brain working faster and more efficiently.
4 Promote new hobbies and skills: learn to play any musical instrument, to Cook, a new language, to dance, or any new manual activity will be putting our brain to work. Allow us to exercise our memory, learning new movements but, above all, to challenge our brain. It must be borne in mind that the more we habituamos a task more becomes routine and therefore works less our brain making. New hobbies or new activities factually that the brain has to pay attention again, and will also allow us to eliminate the stress of our daily obligations.
5. The brain also feeds: our brain is a great Devourer of healthy fats, vitamins, magnesium, calcium, copper, phosphorus, folic acid, … and the Mediterranean diet is that you feel better. Given that increasingly more people fond of products gourmet ”, baskets of fruit, a good bottle of wine, … or even a book of recipes of Mediterranean cuisine, can be a good choice.
6 Physical exercise. Like the rest of our body, the brain benefits of physical exercise. Gifts that encourage the practice of any sport not only help maintain our more active brain, improve mood and influence in a very positive way in memory, but that it will allow us to control high blood pressure, a great enemy of our brain.
