Neurobic Exercise

Since scientists and research have dismissed the myth that dendrites only grow in the brains of children; we now know that old neurons can grow dendrites to compensate for the loss we experience with aging.  Another new insight is that the aging brain does have the ability to grow, adapt, and change the patterns of connections.  With these discoveries comes the basis for a new theory of brain exercises called Neurobics.

The purpose of Neurobics is to help maintain a continuing level of mental fitness, strength and flexibility as you age.  This program requires challenging the brain with the not normal, nonroutine or unexpected and encourages the use of various combinations of the physical senses – vision, smell, touch, taste, and hearing, as well as the emotional sense.  These exercises stimulate patterns of neural activity and create more direct connections between the different brain areas which in turn cause the nerve cells to produce natural brain nutrients called neurotrophins.  These dramatically increase the size and complexity of nerve cell dendrites, as well as make the surrounding cells stronger and more resistant to the effects of aging.

Neurobics is an allusion to physical exercises.  Physical exercise emphasizes the use of many different muscle groups to enhance coordination and flexibility.  Neurobics emphasizes the “involvement” or use of many different brain areas to increase the range of mental motion.