Page 41 - The Brain Health Guide

THE BRAIN HEALTH GUIDE
your age or gender. That conclusion was based on a study that
followed 300,000 people for more than seven and a half years.

Another study, the 2005 Australian Longitudinal Study of
Aging, found that people with good supportive relationships
were 22 percent more likely to outlive their peers who had the CHAPTER 8
smallest number of good friends.
proven memory TriCks
As you would expect, there’s a lot of excitement over studies
like these because they suggest you can modify your life and tap
into similar health benefits. The message is clear: If you have
good friends, you can boost your overall brain health. "how old would you be if you didn'T
know how old you were?" — saTChel paige
Quality vs. Quantity
Is there such a thing as having the “right” number of friends?

Studies have suggested that it’s not the number of people like
you on the internet or you see on a regular basis that counts
when it comes to health benefits. What is important is quality
over quantity.

So, trust your instincts when it comes to making close friends.
If you are someone who prefers to interact on a one-on-one
basis and get to know people that way, that’s fine. Maybe you
prefer to get together with people in small groups. That works
too, as long as you have several close friends you can count on
to be there for you when you need them.

Some psychologists have suggested that friends from different
backgrounds, with varying hobbies and life interests, actually
give us an increased number of health benefits. In terms of
brain fitness that makes sense. Our brains need to be challenged.
We need to stimulate our minds with a variety of experiences,
especially as we age.

Find friends with whom you can have insightful conversations,
friends who enjoy similar books, art and movies. Like any
muscle, the brain needs regular exercise to remain strong. A
diverse set of friends will help your mind stay active and enjoy
learning late into life.

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