Why Brain Volume Is Important, And How To Increase It...
Brain atrophy can be caused by aging, chronic alcohol consumption or regular drug use, persistent stress, or from a large number of diseases.
People with brain atrophy lose neurons, and connections between their brain cells and brain volume often decreases.
This can lead to problems with thinking, memory and performing everyday tasks. The greater the brain volume loss, the greater the impairment.
In 2016, using a new MRI technique, researchers found that adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who exercised four times a week over a six-month period experienced an increase in brain volume, compared with those who just stretched.
The aerobic activities including walking on the treadmill, riding the stationary bike or using the elliptical trainer.
In another study people who follow a Mediterranean-type diet retained more brain volume over 3 years than those not following the diet (caloric adjusted).
A Mediterranean-type diet consists of high consumption of fruit and vegetables, olive oil as the primary source of fat, moderate consumption of fish, and low-moderate intake of dairy products, red meat and poultry.
Further research found that while eight weeks is not long enough for meditation to make changes in brain volume, other data suggest that regular meditation practice can increase volume in parts of the brain that deal with attention and processing sensory input.
So, it appears as though regular aerobic exercise, a healthy balanced diet, and adopting a meditation practice may all contribute to maintaining or even increasing brain volume, and subsequently improving various cognitive functions.
References
PMID: 17167157, PMID: 28053008, PMID: 35594344
