I could see brain classes in community college schedule books soon, perhaps as a continuing education class, and as research continues to advance what we can legitimately claim for brain fitness, perhaps even four year schools or graduate schools would include a brain class, or an improve your brain class.



Research is advancing the concept rapidly, and brain salons and brain fitness programs are popping up at senior centers around the country.

What might a brain class include?

Brain Classes-Physical Exercise

I have not seen a brain fitness blog or website yet that does not speak to the benefits of physical exercise for brains of all ages.

So a brain class would definitely speak to the need for physical fitness.

Brain Classes-Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to rearrange itself, actually its synaptic connections, in response to novel challenge, with novel being a very important word.

For a counselor, reading another book about counseling will not increase synaptic connections.

Learning a new language or starting piano lessons would encourage neuroplasticity, which is very good for the older brain. Don't have to master it folks, just do it, for the brain to benefit.

All the neurons involved in the circuit learn to fire together, and the more active the circuit is, the longer the brain keeps it.

Brain Classes-Neurogenesis

Not too long ago neuroscientific dogma said that brains do not grow new neurons past age five or so. That is an overturned dogma, because we do grow new neurons.

In fact, now the scientists are attempting to find out what it takes to cement them into already existing circuits, because it appears that we do not keep all that we have birthed.

Neurogenesis can be encouraged with, you guessed it, novel challenge, exercise, nutrition, stress management, and good sleep.

Brain Classes-Nutrition

You will want to rush out for some dark chocolate for its phytochemicals. (But not milk chocolate!)

The best foods for our brains and our bodies are foods eaten as they are grown, preferably locally grown.

Processed foods have the nutrition milled out of them, are filled with appetite stimulants, msg, which is an excitotoxin, and high fructose corn syrup, and processed foods contribute significantly to obesity, which is not good for your brain.

Processed foods are built, engineered actually, for long shelf life, not nutrition.

Brain Classes-Computerized Brain Fitness Programs

A brain class would certainly include an evaluation of the currently available computerized brain fitness programs.

Whether they are of the short and sweet variety or the long and tedious, there are a number of programs available which the research says are valuable tools for neurogenesis and neuroplasticity.

And they are updating rapidly. In fact, there is an incredible competition in the market place between some of the companies who are creating those programs.

Brain Classes-Stress Management

The one thing that I routinely see in my reading as dangerous to neuroplasticity is stress hormones, like adrenalin and cortisol. So a brain class would certainly include information about breathing and visualization and relaxation.

There might even be information about biofeedback, of the peripheral or brainwave or heart rate variability biofeedback types, all of which can be used to convert stress hormones into something more helpful like DHEA.

Brain Classes-Sleep

A brain class would definitely include information on the need for regular and healthy sleep. A great deal of consolidation happens in the brain when we are asleep, and if we do not get appropriate rest, that consolidation is not effectively completed, to the detriment of our well being.

Look in your community college catalog before next semester to see if your community will have brain classes.