We are told that we should exercise our bodies in order to keep them fit and running well, but now we are told that we should also keep exercising our brains.  Perhaps that is one of the good things about writing for Great Writing.  We must tell ourselves that we are doing ourselves a lot of good.

However, the experts tell us that we should not leave it  until too late (so I am not just talking to the oldies on this website).  The earlier you start nourishing and exercising your brain the better in order to ward off Alzheimer’s disease.  More and more research shows that some fairly simple steps can truly lower your risk of  dementia – although there is no guarantee that you will not get it.  The good news is that, according to the news this week, there is a lot of research going on with Alzheimer's disease, and within 5 to 10 years time we should see  significant advances in this direction.

So, apart from writing poetry, and studying Italian, what should I be doing?  I should be building up what is called “a cognitive reserve” – and it appears that there are classes going on around the country to teach people of any age, how to do it.  (Now it is up to you to find out about this for yourselves as I am busy exercising my brain).

Evidence suggests that "individuals with greater cognitive reserves, as indicated by higher IQ, education, occupational attainment or participation in leisure acrivities, have a slower age-related cognitive decline and a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease."  Now I don’t know where that puts people, like myself, who were 11 plus failures but have pulled ourselves up by the scruff of our necks into the professions by sheer hard work.  Perhaps we should  be occupying our minds with the study of  languages, reading, listening to radio 3, writing for Great Writing (or other such prestigious publications) or whatever gives you your mental exercise in life.   Brain cells are now found to be sustained and stimulated by physically changing your brain by doing mentally stimulating things well into the senior years. 

When my generation were teenagers, I think I am right in saying that only 2 per cent of the population went to University.  I became a teacher, and teachers didn't need a degree.  Yet, in the subjects which I taught (business studies), all my students passed their examinations, many with distinctions - so I could not say that the students would have done better if I had had a degree.  However, parents didn't have money to keep us at university and we had to get to work as soon as possible.  I was teaching at 21 years of age and had been working before then.  However, years later,  the Open University came along and opened up a new door of opportunity, and many of us took the opportunity to study for a degree in this way, combining study whilst paying our mortgages at the same time.  Remember that it is never too late.  We receive The Open University Magazine "Open Eye" and in the Autumn issue we read of the following man:

May I introduce you to Philip  who is certainly striving to keep his mind actively engaged.  He is said to be addicted to the Open University.  "Philip Sully has been happily married to his wife Janet for nearly 40 years, with two grown up children and he runs his own company.  However, apart from being busy in these directions he is a compulsive studier.  At 60 years of age he has done so well with the Open University that they have named a building after him.  Philip has achieved a Graduate Diploma in Spanish, BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences, BA (Hons) in Humanities, MSc in Industrial Application of Computers, Postgraduate Diploma in Computing for Commerce and Industry and a Diploma in Information Technology.  He has paid for all his courses himself apart from his MSc, which was partly funded by Panasonic, his employer at the time.   He says 'I am just interested in continuing education.  However, I’m not one of these people that spend 20 hours a week studying.  My time-box for study is 8 to 10 hours maximum studying each week'.” 

So, how are YOU keeping your brain active?  Reading these pages are a clear indication that you are doing something worthwhile.  Before departing, there is one other area of research which may be of interest to those of us who wish to keep our brains working:  

ALCOHOL:   There are things for and against it.  It is said that alcohol makes your brain grow:   http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4496727.stm  That is the good news.  But we are also told that these new cells could contribute to the development of alcohol dependence.  In The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology (try saying that after a few whiskies):  “Lead researcher, Professor Stefan Brene, said:  ‘We believe that the increased production of new nerve cells during moderate alcohol consumption can be important for the development of alcohol addiction and other long-term effects of alcohol on the brain.’  Alternatively, the extra cells might help with learning and memory, he said. “  Well, this may well please many of you.   Maybe that is why pub quizzes are popular.

Now see this alternative website: http://www.gurney.co.uk/drinksense/factsheets/effects.htm
I quote:  “Steady drinking over many years leads to permanent changes in the brain. One of the permanent effects of alcohol on the brain is to reduce the amount of brain tissue and to increase the size of the ventricles instead.  Another way in which alcoholic drinks affect the brain is through depriving it of food substances such as vitamins. This is because heavy drinkers often neglect their diet, which can lead to vitamin deficiencies. Thiamine, one of the 'B' vitamins is most commonly missing from the diet and can lead to serious mental disturbance.”

Well, that’s all I have to say on the subject.  I'm off to write another poem, but  I’m sure you will have lots of ideas of your own to work on, and, whilst you are doing this, remember what a lot of good you are doing for your brain at the same time!