How kindness can help your brain

WE KNOW that brain trauma is linked to an increased risk of depression, but this week it emerged that emotional neglect in childhood can cause physical scarring in the brain in the insular cortex — the region that deals with regulating emotion.

This can lead to mental health problems in later life, according to a groundbreaking German study published in The Lancet.

But on the plus side, we know that the brain keeps on growing and developing throughout adulthood.

In fact, this week another study by Spanish researchers reported that our brains continue to develop into our 90s.

This is an indication of the brain’s enormous potential to heal itself. Indeed, positive developments in an individual’s life — falling in love, having a child, just being kind to yourself — all help the brain make new connections to minimise earlier damage.

That’s something we should all bear in mind.