FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Keeping our minds sharp and active can keep our brains healthy.<\/p>\n
“Any exercise retrains the brain,” says Dr. Perminder Bhatia. “What happens when people get dementia is that the connections in the brain are going slowly. When we retrain the brain, the connections become faster. When the connections become faster, they produce more neurotransmitters at the same time.”<\/p>\n
A study in the Alzheimer’s Association research journal found that simple brain speed exercises were linked to lowering the risk of dementia by 26% at a 20-year follow-up.<\/p>\n
Researchers looked at participants who did the initial speed exercise, plus the booster sessions.<\/p>\n
“They gave them exercises to speed and coordination of their eyes at points to make them faster,” Dr. Bhatia said.<\/p>\n
Researchers noted that the speed exercise worked differently than memory ones because it pushes the mind to adapt.<\/p>\n
Dr. Bhatia is the medical director of the Neuro-Pain Medical Center in northeast Fresno.<\/p>\n
He gave a demonstration of what these exercises look like.<\/p>\n
One example he showed was from the website Brain HQ.<\/p>\n
“It gives you what you want,” Dr. Bhatia said. “Auditory brain speed, visual brain seed, field of view and safety. This game is called Hawk-Eye.”<\/p>\n
Dr. Bhatia recommends that people over 50 years old start these exercises, but anyone can start these sessions at any age.<\/p>\n
There are more steps we can take to reduce our risk.<\/p>\n
As we age, doctors say we become more susceptible to dementia.<\/p>\n
That’s why living a healthier life and staying stimulated can improve our well-being for years to come.<\/p>\n
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