HEALTHY LIVING


Boost Your Memory and Mental Sharpness


Learn something new rather than repeating same tasks. ::


BY JUDY KOUTSKY F


irst the bad news: your memory often declines with age. Now the good news:


A new study finds that learning something new, rather than repeating the same task, can improve memory. The research, published in the


journal Intelligence, found that maintaining mental acuity as we age is best achieved through engaging in a variety of activities rather than repetitive tasks. Older adults who participated in


a mix of different cognitive activities showed greater memory improvement than those who only performed one repetitive task. “So, for example, if you want to


learn to play a particular song on the piano, there may be some benefit to practicing scales and other songs with some of the same chords,” says study author and lead investigator Elizabeth A.L. Stine-Morrow, Ph.D., professor emerita of educational psychology at University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign. “The principle


is that when you invest in learning a particular skill, you may be increasing your ability to learn related skills. This is important because working memory is a critical mental skill known to predict language comprehension,


82 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | JANUARY 2025


reasoning, and other sorts of everyday performance. “This research is significant in suggesting that it is malleable — and the pathway to achieve this may involve variation in experience,” Stine- Morrow says. The study refers to the mutualism


principle, which means that intellectual abilities influence one another as we grow. “The reason the principle of


mutualism is important is that it challenges the prevailing view that ‘intelligence’ — typically measured as an array of intercorrelated


abilities — is an inherent property of individuals that is reflected in everyday performance,” she says. “Rather, mutualism suggests


that intelligence emerges through interaction with complex environments that allow the exercise of mental skills in varying constellations and in varying contexts,” Stine- Morrow adds.


DIVERSE TRAINING “Mix up your routine — do crosswords, Sudoku, learn a new language, play an instrument, and read books on various topics,” says Kristopher M. Day, M.D., a surgeon at Pacific Sound Plastic Surgery. “Variety challenges your mind in different ways.” He explains that his work as a


Diverse cognitive training creates new neural pathways that strengthen connections in your brain, increasing processing speed and capacity.” — Kristopher M. Day, M.D.


plastic surgeon requires developing expertise in multiple related domains — anatomy, surgical techniques, and new technologies. Staying up-to-date across this variety of topics helps keep his mind sharp for the nuances of each unique patient case.


KEEP BRAIN SHARP By challenging your brain in different ways, you can help maintain its overall performance. “Your brain can become accustomed to performing in one way and become less effective, but by varying your activities, you can maintain greater neural flexibility and adaptability, which is crucial for good cognitive health,” says Sanam Hafeez, Psy.D., neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind. Just like a varied food diet is key, so is a diverse mental diet. So, if you love your Wordle, you don’t have to quit, but maybe add learning a new card or game, or try a new sport or hobby. This way, the


brain stays fresh by


being taxed in various ways, which could yield greater cognitive benefits as you age.


MELITAS©ISTOCK


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