Researchers Find 3 Important Factors Potentially Protect Brain Health

Illustration of factors that protect brain health (Freepik/Wirestock)

YOGYAKARTA Many studies show that playing musical instruments can improve a person's cognitive power. This is related to how appropriate lifestyle is to protect brain health. The findings of the latest researchers reported in a paper reported by Medical News Today, Friday, September 30, show that there are factors that have the potential to protect the health of your brain.

The cognitive function of the brain decreases with age. This is related to the volume of white material and gray brain. The gray material consists of a biological structure, including the body of nerve cells, synapsis, and capillary. While white matter consists of mielined akson.

The volume of gray matter continues to decline at the age of about 10 years. Research shows that individuals who are medically and cognitively more severe experience less brain atrophy than individuals who are less healthy. Research also shows that regular exercise, strong relationships, and passion are key to keeping the brain healthy during the aging process.

Based on the evidence found by researchers, they report that improving welfare has the potential to be obtained when pursuing arousal related to interests, skills that activate physical activity, and more social relationships.

"We have found that passion or strong interest can be a motivation for achievement and well-being because it determines the direction of arrows," said Hermmundsson, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Through these research findings, researchers recommend that you find passion and develop it. Perseverance is a measure in going through the process and accepting challenges. While challenges are the key to development.

Another finding suggests that an active lifestyle is very helpful in maintaining cognitive and neurological health across age groups. Especially in a high-level process, such as switching between tasks, work memory, and cognitive impairment. This is evidenced in intervention in older adults. When they undergo 1 hour of aerobic training 3 times a week for 6 months, they will experience an increase in gray and white meters compared to those that are not.

Other studies have also shown that physical activity increases the functionality of brain areas related to attention, attention control, daily life activities, and cognitive reserves. This is related to the ability to act and think that has decreased related to age.

In addition to pursuing passion and physical activity, the third factor that has the potential to protect brain health is maintaining social bonds. This can increase cognitive reserves through cognitive strategies, greater nerve growth, and sinatic density that protect the pathological process.

In the study through imaging, it has a larger social network related to the larger phrontal orbital cortex and amygdala volume associated with decision-making.