The truth about memory
Bates, of the University of Western Australia, says when she was an
honours student in 2000, it was still thought the brain stopped
producing neurons past childhood. "We now know that isn't true. Evidence
came out last year that the hippocampi [we have a hippocampus in each
hemisphere] each makes 700 new neurons every day."
She says that
while middle-aged brains begin to lose synapses and there is an
associated slowing of some functions, it's now understood that "in
middle age people use their brain differently. Both sides of the brain
are used to process information, rather than just the one side".
It's
not yet understood if this is a natural offset to lost function, but
the net result is better communication between both halves, and a
greater ability to better judge situations and evaluate information.
"What we're seeing is the biological basis for wisdom that comes with
ageing."
The best news is that the decline of the brain can be
slowed – even repaired – by doing the same things that keep our hearts
healthy – exercise, good diet, manage stress. The best exercise seems to
be education.
