Channelling Your Inner Einstein - Helping your brain to function better

The Cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and divides into two hemispheres, left and right. Each hemisphere is divided into four lobes.

• The frontal lobes: These are involved in speech, thought, emotions, skilled activities, judgment, and social behaviour. This is where the personality lies.

• The temporal lobes: These are involved in the interpretation and recognition of sounds.

• The parietal lobes: These are where touch, pain, and taste are perceived.

• The occipital lobes: These are involved in hearing, vision, and colour recognition.

  
  

Nutrients to consider in order to help your brain function better:

• Ginkgo: increases blood flow to the brain and may improve memory.

• B vitamins: appear to reduce the risk of dementia.

• Vitamin D: is involved in learning, memory, and mood.

• Omega-3 fish oils: are important for brain structure and function.

• Phosphatidylserine: supports memory, learning, and cognition.

Mind boosters

A healthy brain is usually a pretty contented one, so it is in our interest to look after it. By maximizing your brain's potential, you can substantially alter your life. Improving your brain can not only help to increase your intelligence and memory power, but it can also help you to beat depression, lower your risk of illness, get more out of life, and lead more fulfilling relationships.

Making simple lifestyle changes can increase brain health significantly and even increase longevity. Good brain health means you make better decisions about the most important aspects of your life. Your brain controls everything you do, from how you think and act, to your emotions, social interaction and personality. It uses about 25% of the calories you consume, and like any other organ in the body, it needs care and attention to keep it working at its optimum level. It has specific requirements which, if not met, can mean losing an average of 85,000 brain cells daily, which can increase the risk of brain-related diseases such as Alzheimer's and Dementia.

Your brain is extremely soft, encased in a protective hard skull that has many ridges, which can become damaged during head injuries. However, it is common not to experience symptoms of long-term brain injury until years after an accident.

The brain uses around 20% of the body's blood flow and Oxygen supply. Blood brings Oxygen and nutrients to the brain, and disposes of Carbon Dioxide and other toxic waste products. Blood flow decreases over time, so make sure you keep active, get enough sleep at night, stay hydrated, and be conscious that smoking, alcohol, drugs, and caffeine all disrupt the blood flow.

Increasing the brain's reserve

The brain has a reserve, which is a cushion of extra neurons that we have, which help to deal with unexpected events or traumas. The greater the reserve, the more stress or injuries we are able to handle. Events that can decrease the brain's reserve include prenatal or birth injuries, irrational, negative thinking, chronic stress, alcohol or drug abuse, lack of exercise or lack of sleep, and drinking too much caffeine.

You can increase the brain's resilience by learning a new skill, making new social connections, and practising thinking flexibly. Exercising, maintaining a balanced, healthy diet, and taking a good quality multivitamin have also been shown to help, according to scientific research.

Your brain doesn't stop developing until your mid-20s, and it continues to repair itself on ongoing basis. The brain needs to be maintained in order for it to function well.

Certain activities, such as starting a new exercise regime, can promote the growth of new brain cells (Neurogenesis). Load up on foods that help to build neurons, such as lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Ideal brain activities

The brain loves physical activity. Regular exercise boosts hormones that keep your brain at its peak. Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain, protects the brain against toxins, and enhances learning. Examples are:

Dance: learning steps helps to activate the cerebellum (just above the brainstem, towards the back of the brain) and enhance thinking, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed.

Juggling: Oxford University research has found that juggling can produce changes to the structure of the brain, boosting brain connections.

Table tennis: this helps to balance the brain and has low risk of injury. Research suggests that it's great for hand-eye co-ordination and reflexes and stimulates use of many different areas of the brain at one time.

“THE MEASURE OF INTELLIGENCE IS THE ABILITY TO CHANGE.”  — ALBERT EINSTEIN