Post by Zadkiel on Feb 16, 2016 13:19:29 GMT
Brain imaging studies using PET scans and functional MRI show that any mentally complex activity uses many areas of the brain and over a day, just about all of the brain gets a workout. More proof that the entire brain is crucial for daily life is the devastating impact of damage to even a small area of the brain. However, we do have some brain reserves. An autopsy study found that seniors who stay mentally active through activities like reading the paper, going to the theater or playing chess are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, even if they have the characteristic physical brain changes typical of dementia; suggesting that mental function has a "use it or lose it" component. That allows people that keep their brain stimulated to develop more brain reserves, allowing them to continue functioning normally even as their brains are being damaged by Alzheimer's.
