KEEP YOUR BEARING IN MIND
Read maps for brain health
IF YOU RELY on GPS to navigate, have a rethink, because reading maps could help to preserve brain health – and may even stave off symptoms of Alzheimer’s .1 The hippocampus is one of the first areas damaged by the condition, affecting the ability to navigate and recall directions. ‘The parts of your brain that may be responsible for your ability to navigate need exercise and if they are not exercised, they literally shrink,’ says David Barrie, an expert in natural navigation. ‘It’s possible that in people who fall victim to Alzheimer’s disease, their hippocampus has already shrunk from lack of use or has less resilience for coping with the onslaught of disease.’ More research is required to determine how mental stimulation protects the brain, but swapping the GPS for some old-school navigation can’t hurt.