Exercise often to energize the brain

　　Nerve cells in the brain, like other tissues and organs, maintain their vitality the more they are used.
　　The same biological principle of “use in and use out” applies to the human brain. The more diverse and complex the interactions, the more neural connections the brain will have. There is no need to worry about “brain overload” because the human cerebral cortex has about 14 billion nerve cells, and the average person uses only about 1 billion of them during his or her lifetime.
　　Conversely, the more life environments and experiences lack stimulation, or do the same thing day after day, making the brain feel bored, the brain’s internal connections will gradually degenerate, slow response, dopamine secretion is reduced, the attention system to maintain brain plasticity is destroyed, the brain volume will slowly become smaller, more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease in old age. People who use their brains diligently are generally 50% more intelligent than those who are lazy. Older people with high levels of academic and occupational intelligence are usually much slower and lighter in brain aging and mental decline than those with less intellectual activity. Nerve cells in the brain, like other tissues and organs, maintain their full vitality the more they are used.
　　So, how to exercise the brain? Three suggestions are given.
　　First, experience and feel more different environments, so that the brain constantly adapts to new changes. New environments can stimulate neural regeneration. In a different environment, the brain needs to constantly re-learn, so that it can hit the “expected cell proliferation” spark. If we have been in a room that has been the same for decades and we already know everything about the environment, the brain does not need neural regeneration.
　　In order to keep the brain in top shape, we should try more new environments. For example, get out of the house often, travel to different places, read more writings of the masters, stay mentally active, or participate in different social activities and interact with different people.
　　Secondly, keep exercising every day to supply oxygen to the brain and stimulate neuronal growth. Just as rich environmental stimulation can stimulate positive changes in the brain, exercise can bring similar effects. Mental activity depends on the brain, and the brain needs oxygen. Walking, cycling or cardio exercise can make the body organs that supply oxygen to the brain strong and healthy, thus making the brain active and mentally sharp.
　　In fact, the brain will benefit from whatever means of keeping the heart and blood vessels in optimal condition. Even a daily walk at an appropriate pace can stimulate the growth of new neurons.
　　Third, maintain the habit of lifelong learning so that the brain learns something new every day. In addition to increasing the number of new neurons, extending the life span of existing neurons can also improve brain plasticity. Learning can extend the life of existing neurons in the hippocampus, as long as they keep learning “new things”, they can extend the life of neurons in that area.
　　Maintaining good habits of lifelong learning, such as learning multiple languages, learning technologies that are completely unexplored, and trying new forms of sports, can maintain and improve memory capacity and also activate the brain’s plasticity control system to keep the brain functioning well.