As many people hit middle age, they may start to notice that their memory and mental clarity are not what they used to be. We suddenly can't remember where we put the keys just a moment ago, or an old acquaintance’s name, or the name of an old band we used to love. As the brain fades, we refer to these occurrences as “senior moments”. While seemingly innocent, this loss of mental focus can potentially have a damaging impact on our professional, social and personal life.
Neuroscientists, experts who study the nervous system, are increasingly showing that there’s actually a lot that can be done. It turns out that the brain needs exercise in much the same way our muscles do, and the right mental workouts can significantly improve our basic cognitive functions. Thinking is essentially a process of making connections in the brain. To some extent, our ability to excel in making the connections that drive intelligence is inherited.