CNN Reports:
Quick Summary
Some forgetfulness – like occasionally forgetting to pay a bill or recall a word – can be expected at any age. But cognitive decline – such as consistently struggling to remember monthly bills or stay focused in conversations – is not a natural part of getting older.
Key Points
- Your physical body is always capable of change for better or for worse. The degree and nature of that change has less to do with age and more to do with action.
- When it comes to training your brain, your body is an essential part of the formula.
- The adage “use it or lose it” applies to both your body and brain.
- Sleep is not just a time of rest but an essential restoration process that impacts all systems of the body.
- Recent research has shown that social relationships enhance neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change, enhance and preserve its cognitive abilities.