Bloggin Noggin

Forgetting things more than normal ? Tired? Irritable? Struggling to focus or ‘get stuff done’? Everyday ways to give your brain a workout.

Monday morning. Even thought our normal routines are far from normal at the moment that Monday morning can still bring a sense of panic at all the things that need to be done today or in the coming week. And now there is home schooling, the constant fear of illness and the fact that we are separated from loved ones to contend with as well.

We LOVE reading at Noggin HQ. With so much choice and (ahem) time on our hands at the moment there has never been a better time to get stuck in to reading. Whether you are a speed reader or can only manage a couple pf pages a day reading is a great brain healthy habit for all ages.

Ways to keep our brains ticking; learn new words, get creative, doodle & sing.

We love to boogie, and not just on a Saturday night. Can dancing make us feel better? According to Dr Peter Lovatt, psychologist and dance expert, the answer is a big YES ( what an amazing job that must be…). Dancing, in different ways to other types of exercise, has the power to change the way we think, how we feel and boost our mood. 

There is a whole area of research dedicated to how music affects your brain- it’s called neuromusicology. (what a great name!). Music activates all areas of your brain and whether you are listening to it, playing it or humming it - music is a brain health must. Why? Music has been shown to make you happier, healthier and even more productive throughout life.

Dr. Seuss once wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Over the coming weeks as our children are off school, it’s a great opportunity to look after your child’s brain health with reading. 

What’s the leading killer of women in Scotland and what can you do about it?A quick review of The National Records of Scotland shows that Dementia & Alzheimer Disease is the leading cause of female deaths in Scotland accounting for 14.4% of all deaths in 20181.

Pets are good for your health. A 12 year study looking at nearly 3.5 million people  showed that owning a dog was related to a lower risk for heart disease, stroke and heart attack.

Eat better, manage stress, exercise, spend time outside, less time on screens- there are so many small changes we can make to help us feel better and look after our brains.

Can being active really make a difference in later life to the health of your brain? How much of a difference and HOW active do your really need to be to see the benefits?

Healthy Heart Happy Brain? Researchers have confirmed over recent years that looking after our heart health is important for our brain health. Avoiding high blood pressure, exercising and reducing stress are all factors that are important to reduce the risks of heart disease and it seems helps our brains too. But this week we saw some emerging research on this that suggests we are never too young to start looking after our brains A study looking at 189 people with the average age of 24 were followed for 30 years as part of a large research project  What they found that those people studied with better measurements for heart health at the beginning of the study ( such as non smokers, having a healthy weight and blood pressure ) were more likely to have better results on their tests of memory and thinking skills 30 years on.  This is a starting point for yet more research but what it does suggest that what we do and how we live in our younger years may make a difference to our brain health in later years.  Small changes do make a difference to how we feel and the health of our brains. And it seems the earlier we start making these small changes the more we we may benefit in later life.  What are some of the things that matter for heart and brain health- even in our 20’s?  Keeping active, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking and finding ways to manage our stress- small changes really do make a difference to how we feel and our brain health, at any and every age.  https://home.bt.com/news/science-news/heart-problems-in-your-20s-may-affect-brain-health-decades-later-11364433719196 Dr Clara Russell