Many people after the age of forty or fifty will complain that their physical strength is declining, their reactions or memory are getting worse, and they lament that they are old, but is this really the case? Intensivist Huang Xuan shared on Facebo...
Many people after the age of forty or fifty will complain that their physical strength is declining, their reactions or memory are getting worse, and they lament that they are old, but is this really the case? Intensivist Huang Xuan shared on Facebook that in fact, middle age at the age of 55 is the golden peak of the brain.
The brain does not degenerate as we ageBrain aging does not go downhill all the way. A British study analyzed the brain age differences of more than 4,000 participants and found that the concentration of brain proteins fluctuated, with obvious peaks at three age points: 57, 70 and 78 years old.
This result shows that age is not simply a signal of mental decline, but more like an opportunity for the brain to "re-adjust". As we grow older, our cognitive abilities reach peaks at different stages, helping us adapt to different life tasks.
Research points out that the brain’s responsiveness is strongest at the age of 18; open-mindedness is at its highest at the age of 35; emotional intelligence begins to lead at the age of 40; moral reasoning and sense of responsibility reach their peak after the age of 55; by the age of 70 or 80, one can let go of obsessions and not be affected by psychological biases in judgment.
Scientific research points out that traditionally, brain function is often judged only based on IQ, ignoring "Crystallized Intelligence." Crystallized intelligence is the crystallization of knowledge and experience and affects psychological and cognitive traits, such as emotional intelligence, moral reasoning, memory, openness, responsibility, financial judgment and other factors that are crucial to life decision-making.
If considered comprehensively, the overall psychological function curve in life actually reaches its peak in late middle age between the ages of 55 and 60.
To put it simply, when we are young, our brains do allow us to learn and react faster, but the thinking mode in middle age allows us to think more deeply and comprehensively, and make more favorable and accurate judgments.
Dr. Huang Xuan pointed out that people around the age of 55 are better able to learn lessons from experience, know where to spend resources, think more long-term, and have better strategic abilities and insights than in their younger years. This also explains why many people accumulate career achievements at this stage. Most of the world's top leaders, scientists, and politicians are concentrated in the age range of 50 and 60.
Rely on these 4 tips to nourish your brainThe brain is the same as the body. The less it is trained, the faster it degrades. The brain is plastic and can be continuously strengthened through stimulation. Doctors recommend using 4 habits to maintain our brain.
1. Reading
Reading is like "retraining" the brain. Reading can increase our crystallized intelligence, not just reading words, but re-training comprehension, association and critical thinking.
2. Learn new skills
Living and learning is not only a slogan, but also the only way to increase our brainpower. Whether learning a new language, guitar, painting, or cooking, it will promote the growth of new synapses in the brain nerves. Research shows that as long as adults learn a new skill every week, the size of the brain's memory and creativity center "hippocampus" will increase.
3. Exercise and social interaction
Walking, chatting and aerobic exercise can increase "brain-derived neurotrophic factor" (BDNF) and stimulate the coordination of the frontal lobe and amygdala. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise more than three times a week for more than 8 weeks can increase BDNF in the blood by 30 to 45% and improve executive function and memory.
4. Sleep well
There is no better health product than a good night's sleep. At night, the brain's "cleaning system" —— the glymphatic system (glymphatic system) will start to operate to remove β amyloid proteins and toxins accumulated in the brain, β amyloid protein is a metabolic waste related to Alzheimer's disease. If you do not sleep well, the β amyloid protein accumulated in the brain will further aggravate sleep disorders, forming a vicious cycle.
