THOSE BRAIN MYTHS DEBUNKED
AS WE AGE, WE’RE DOOMED TO FORGET
There is a kernel of truth to this myth because some cognitive skills do decline as you age, especially if you don’t employ strategies to pay closer attention and help you remember.
But although you might have been quicker at picking up a new language or memorising a list of random words when you were younger, as an older adult you are more likely to have a superior vocabulary and to be a good judge of character.
You’ll score higher on tests of social communication and diplomacy, such as how to settle an argument or deal with a conflict.
The other good news about an ageing brain is that we tend to improve over time at controlling our own emotions, weathering stress, and finding meaning in our lives.
OLDER PEOPLE CAN’T LEARN NEW THINGS
Learning can take place at any age, especially when you get involved with cognitively stimulating activities such as meeting new people or trying new hobbies.
Because our memory is dynamic and it is possible to grow new neurons, we can continue to change our brain’s information, capacity, and ability to learn. although mastering new skills, such as a second or third language, might take an older person slightly longer, this doesn’t mean you cannot achieve the feat.
never say ‘never’. even people diagnosed with cognitive decline can continue to learn new things.
CROSSWORDS KEEP YOUR BRAIN YOUNG
iT’s an urban legend that crossword puzzles can keep your brain young. Unfortunately, the puzzles flex only a portion of your brain, mostly its wordfinding ability. so, while practising might help you excel at that skill, it won’t necessarily keep your brain sharp in any general, overall sense. That said, there is value in doing word and number puzzles, including games such as sudoku. in 2019, a follow-up study by the University of exeter Medical school and King’s College London confirmed earlier results that showed the more often participants did puzzles, the better they perform on tasks assessing attention, reasoning, and memory. What’s known is that keeping an active mind can help to reduce the decline in thinking skills, and for some people, doing crossword puzzles is a way to do that. For others, however, this may not be true.