Building Brain Muscles

Does Constantly Using Your Brain Make It Stronger?

Back in my gym days, when I would pick things up and put them down as many times as I could, the goal was to stress my muscles so they would grow. Each session focused on getting more reps and increasing weight.

Once in a while, I would go for my max to see how strong my process had made me. I did get stronger over time because my muscles adapted to the load I put on them. That was many years ago, and all that strength is long gone.

Can the brain be made stronger in a similar way?

No, not exactly.

How The Brain "Grows"

When you use your noggin consistently and persistently, synaptic connections that are used get stronger while weaker connections that are not used go away. So the brain isn't so much being strengthened as being reshaped. You hear the word neuroplasticity used from time to time, and that's what this process is.

The brain speeds up through repeated firing of neural circuits, thereby forcing more structural change. This is called myelination.

There are a couple more processes that cause the brain to function at a higher level. I won't bore you with them. They all lead to what is called cognitive reserve.

Cognitive Reserve

People who maintain high levels of mental activity throughout their lives build what is known as cognitive reserve, which is essentially a buffer against age-related decline and brain disease.

The brain becomes more efficient and better able to route around damage. This is why some people wind up with Alzheimer's, and some don't, even when they have similar amounts of plaque buildup.

Persistence and Consistency

What this means for those who continually write, think, and apply themselves creatively to their businesses persistently is that they may have a better shot at staying mentally fit through their golden years.

So keep thinking, keep writing or vlogging, whatever your jam is, and push yourself to keep going. Blogging is good for you!

Thanks,

Dave