When you have two teenagers in the house, it is a constant reminder that you are ageing each year. Of course, they like to remind me of that too. As if I need a further reminder, when each time I look in the mirror or see a recent photo the grey hair and wrinkles are well and truly appearing. Injuries also take longer to recover from, as joints and muscles are definitely stiffer than twenty years ago. However, it is often a surprise when I can’t remember something, recall someone’s name or an appointment date. Because there is no visible reminder, it is not as obvious that our brains are also ageing. To exercise the mind is just as important as to exercise the body.

Contrary to the old saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, there is growing evidence to say that we can, and do, learn throughout our lives. Neuroscientists are learning that our brains remain relatively “plastic” as we age, meaning they’re able to reroute neural connections to adapt to new challenges and tasks. Certainly, within the clients we see at Physique, as people age, they can often slowly begin to lose their confidence in their own abilities. A fixed mindset of becoming old can slowly start to creep in. So, what should we do about it?
Firstly, there is strong evidence that maintaining regular physical activity can reduce the risk of dementia. The current recommendation is to do about 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity weekly. In addition to this, performing some strength building activity on at least two days per week is also important.
Secondly, simply use you brain! Continue to do things that are new and challenging to stimulate the strengthening of your brain cells, called neurons, and their connections to each other. Practising a new skill can also strengthen these neural pathways by make our processing time faster.
In addition to these things, having a growth mindset is so important. To be open to new experiences and gently pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zones. This may be physical or cognitive. For example – push yourself to try to remember something before “googling it”, memorise your shopping list after writing it down, try to add up something before jumping for the calculator (guilty here). Taking up something you have always wanted to try is a good way to push yourself out of your comfort zone. I always wanted to learn about horses and most importantly how to ride. I started about nine months ago and knew it would push me physically but I did not anticipate how much it would make me use my brain. I love it so much, thanks to my beautiful instructors – human and horse!
So, in summary, you are never too old to learn something new. Try adding in some simple things into your daily routine for your cognitive health, and don’t be afraid to sign up for something you have always wanted to do. 
Rebecca Bell