Cognitive Fitness
Where are you on the Scale of 1-10?

I’ve been a long-time advocate of making exercise a daily routine for all of my clients for 20+ years. Physical exercise is a natural energy booster and stress-reliever, as well as a means to build stamina and endurance- all of which are important functions to tap into both “on and off the court.” However, what might not be as obvious is that you also need to exercise your mind. Exercise the mind, you say?

While the common perception is that as people age, their cognitive functioning decreases, new research challenges that assumption. Brandeis University’s Margie E. Lachman, PhD says that declines in memory and other cognitive abilities are not inevitable or irreversible. In fact, those individuals who believe they have greater control over their physical and mental functions are more likely to have better memories and operate at higher levels of intellectual functioning. Lachman advocates education as an example of a mental exercise to help build neural connections in the brain.

Recent neuroscientific research shows that the health of your brain isn't just the product of childhood experiences and genetics. It reflects your adult choices and experiences as well. A recent edition of the Harvard Business Review gave many examples of older business leaders maintaining their “cognitive fitness.” Professors Gilkey and Kilts of Emory University's medical and business schools explain how you can strengthen your brain's anatomy, neural networks, and cognitive abilities, and maintain memory as you age. The article below outlines 4 ways to give your brain a workout!

Given this month’s focus on cognitive fitness, I will continue taking my acting class, reading newspapers in the AM while riding my exercise bike an hour a day, and consult with ongoing and new clients to expand my skill set and brainpower! Enjoy this month’s articles and send me an email about how you are ensuring that your brain is as fit as your body!

Cheers!
Mort Shaevitz, PhD
drshaevitz@mhsconsulting.com