“Until the last few years, the predominant
view was that the brain matured in early life
and became fixed, much like a computer,” says
Michael Merzenich, PhD, professor emeritus
at the University of California, San Francisco,
and a pioneer of the concept of neuroplasticity.
“We now understand that the brain is continu-
ously rewiring itself based on our experiences.”
Not only can you form new wiring among
existing brain cells, you also can grow new
ones, says neurologist David Perlmutter, MD,
author of The Better Brain Book (Penguin,
2009). “We were always told you were given a
finite number of brain cells and that it was a
downhill slide as you aged. But, in fact, the
human brain retains the ability to grow new
brain cells throughout your lifetime.”
Science shows that making smart diet and
lifestyle choices, and sticking with them,
can go a long way toward preserving—and
even improving—cognitive function. The first
step is to regularly challenge your brain, says
Paul D. Nussbaum, PhD, clinical neuropsy-
chologist and adjunct professor of neurological
surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine. “Your brain naturally wants infor-
mation that is novel and complex,” says
Nussbaum. Crosswords are fine, but if you’ve
done them repeatedly, you’ve already developed
those neuronal pathways, he cautions. Instead,
“try something you stink at.” For example, take
up an instrument if you’ve never played one, or
try chess. The next step is to utilize the following
strategies, shown in the latest research to boost
brainpower.
Exercise. Aerobic workouts stimulate
production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor
(BDNF), a protein that helps neurons function
better and fuels brain-cell growth. Research
also shows that aerobic exercise not only
improves attention and memory, but also
reverses age-related brain shrinkage and makes
neurons more resistant to injury. “It’s possible
that exercise improves blood pressure and
