The brain acts as the “leader” of the human body, influencing everything from our thoughts and speech to our movements and sensations of hunger. As we grow older, however, it’s common for the brain to face issues like atrophy and a decrease in function. While this aging process may seem natural, it’s significantly influenced by various factors. Engaging in some straightforward exercises can help slow down this aging process and reduce brain atrophy.
- Tongue Exercises
The lingual nerve, which originates in the brain, is linked to the tongue. Engaging in regular tongue movements can serve as a beneficial exercise for seniors. By moving the tongue each morning and evening, they can stimulate brain cells, helping to combat brain aging and atrophy. Here are some simple tongue exercises to try.
a. extend tongue
Push the tip of your tongue forward as far as you can to feel a stretch at the base, then pull it back and curl it up. Repeat this process 10 times.
b. rotate tongue
Keep your tongue inside your mouth and slowly rotate it clockwise to its fullest extent 10 times, then switch and rotate it counterclockwise for another 10 times.
c. tongue and teeth interaction
Gently place the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth for 10 seconds, then move it to the outside of your upper teeth for 10 seconds, followed by the outside of your lower teeth for 10 seconds, and finally the inside of your lower teeth for 10 seconds.
2. Finger exercises
Engaging in different hand and finger exercises can enhance focus, concentration, memory, and motor skills. As we age, multi-tasking can become more challenging, making it beneficial to practice activities that require the brain to perform two tasks at once. A fun example is to have both hands perform different gestures at the same time as is shown in this video.