Counterclockwise brain

Counterclockwise is a belief, an attitude, a behavior (well, more like a set of behaviors). Counterclockwise permeates everything we do, all our choices, our activities, our relationships, our moods.

And our brain.

I write a lot about the body. This week, a few updates about the brain, the sharp, resilient, problem-solving, challenge-loving, creative counterclockwise brain. The brain you want until it’s time to go skydiving for that one last time. (My end-of-life fantasy.)

So here’s a summary of some recent research I’ve been reading:

The brain and physical activity. Being active can reduce your risk of cognitive decline by as much as 38 percent, according to a meta-analysis of 47 studies done by a group of Australian researchers. This activity-brain health connection (exercise increases circulation which means more blood to the brain which means a healthier brain) has been known for a while. It’s the meta-analysis that’s impressive here. If you haven’t paid attention to this particular benefit from exercise, now would be the time.

Obesity and cognitive decline. You know what I’m going to say, right? Well, hear it again: According to a BIG (10,000 people) longitudinal study in the Journal of the American Heart Association, people with BMIs greater than 30 had a 79 percent increase in their risk of cognitive decline compared to those with BMIs under 25. Although the whole BMI measurement thing is quite a bit less than perfect, this is a study to pay attention to. Obesity (defined as a BMI in excess of 30) is implicated in so many health problems. Cognitive decline is now on that list.

Another reason to drink green tea. Researchers at the University of Basel, Switzerland, report that green tea extract enhances cognitive functions, in particular the working memory. It was a small study. But still, given that anti-oxidant-rich green tea has already been linked to other health benefits like longer telomeres, why not drink a cup or two (or three) every day?

And yay for yoga. A group of 60-plus year olds showed significant improvement in immediate and delayed recall of verbal and visual memory, attention and working memory, verbal fluency and processing speed after 6 months of practicing yoga compared to a matched group of non-practicers. Again, it’s a small study (87 people) but…as there’s almost nothing better for flexibility than yoga…and it’s a mood-enhancer and stress-reliever as well, why not get out the mat?