人类的大脑像肌肉一样，需要不断地使用，才能变得更灵活，从而降低患智力退化类疾病的几率。现在，互联网上有各种宣称能帮助促进大脑功能的游戏。但一项新的报告表明，智力开发类游戏的效果实际不如我们预期的那样高。

 

If you don't use it, you lose it. At least, that's how the old aphorism¹ goes. It refers to the idea that something which does not get utilised regularly quickly falls into a state of decline. For example, a hobby that you haven't done for a few years, like playing the trumpet². You might find yourself a bit rusty³ the next time you pick one up – or maybe you've forgotten altogether!  Muscles are another example. They will waste away without use. In order to counteract⁴ this, people take regular exercise to keep their skills sharp.

 

Well, what about the brain? As we age, our brains can naturally begin to decline. In some cases this can lead to certain mental conditions such as dementia, which I'm sure you will agree, no one wants. However, all is not lost because these days it's relatively⁵ easy to train your brain. Smartphones and apps have put programmes into our hands that can test, maintain and even augment⁶ our memories, mathematical skills, logic⁷ skills and a raft of other mental abilities. With a little practice every day, we can keep our brains nice and sharp, right?

 

Well, no, actually. According to a report from the Global Council on Brain Health, even though many people thought it was important to play online games, such as puzzles and mind games, which are designed to improve brain health, the evidence of the benefits was "weak to non-existent". Playing a 'brain game' may lead to improvements in game performance, but this has yet to show a convincing result in people's daily cognitive⁸ abilities. In other words, doing hundreds of sudoku puzzles might make you a sudoku wizard, but it doesn't necessarily improve your ability to do your accounting⁹.

 

It's not all doom¹⁰ and gloom though. There are other ways to stimulate¹¹ the old grey matter. It recommends seeking out new activities that challenge the way you think and are socially engaging, while leading to a healthy lifestyle. Among their suggestions are practising tai chi, taking photography classes, learning new technologies, gardening, art projects or volunteering.

 

There's more good news, too. James Goodwin, chief scientist at Age UK has said that brain decline is not inevitable¹². As long as the activities are "new to you and require your concentrated attention", they can provide benefits for brain health. So, make haste, get out there and try something new. Maybe it's time to try that hobby you've always wanted to do. And as for me? I'm off to learn the piano.

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