As many people hit middle age, they often start to notice that their
memory and mental clarity are not what they used to be. We suddenly
can't remember where we put the keys just a moment ago, or an old
acquaintance's name, or the name of an old band we used to love. As the
brain fades, we euphemistically refer to these occurrences as "senior
moments."While seemingly innocent, this loss of mental focus can potentially have a detrimental impact on our professional, social, and personal well-being.
It happens to most of us, but is it inevitable?
Neuroscientists are increasingly showing that there's actually a lot that can be done. It turns that the brain needs exercise in much the same way our muscles do, and the right mental workouts can significantly improve our basic cognitive functions. Thinking is essentially a process of making neural connections in the brain. To a certain extent, our ability to excel in making the neural connections that drive intelligence is inherited. However, because these connections are made through effort and practice, scientists believe that intelligence can expand and fluctuate according to mental effort.
