We all have senior moments where we may walk into a room and wonder why we came there, or when we misplace our keys and can’t find them. However, though these issues are annoying, they don’t drive us to rush to the doctor.
This is because we generally focus on physical ailments like high blood pressure, pain, and disability. We tend to ignore the functioning of the brain, and check-in whether is it working optimally or not.
This blog covers how we can increase our brain’s efficiency and make the brain fast and sharp. Research has shown that by just adopting some healthy habits, we can boost our neural connections and maintain the brain’s functioning. Let’s take a look at those techniques.
How to Make Brain Fast and Sharp?
The brain can become fast and sharp with the following techniques:
- Learning a new language
- Engaging in new activities
- Eating brain-boosting foods
- Exercising
- Getting a Good Amount of Sleep
- Staying Updated on Your Health
- Social Connection
- Meditation
We will look at each of these techniques in detail in this article.
Learning a New Language
One way to sharpen your brain is by challenging it to learn a new language, preferably a foreign language. In fact, learning a second or third language can even delay the onset of disorders such as dementia. Try picking up a new language, and try speaking in it and communicating in it, no matter how poor you may sound in it.
Engage in New Activities
When you engage in newer and challenging activities, which helps in activating the brain. Try doing newer and unfamiliar activities that you may enjoy. These could include playing chess, gardening, learning new instruments, and playing quizzes.
If you are comfortable with an activity, switch it with something you are not proficient in. For instance, if you are comfortable with drawing then switch it to painting.
Eating Brain-Boosting Foods
Proteins are the building blocks of the body, also known as amino acids. There are about 20 different amino acids that the body needs in order to make all the proteins required. Some of the amino acids are made by the body, while others are acquired through different foods.
The important amino acid involved with dopamine production is called tyrosine. The body’s enzymes can turn tyrosine into dopamine, and hence, having enough tyrosine helps in increasing dopamine levels in the body (Lopez & Mohiuddin, 2022).
This in turn increases the brain’s functioning by increasing its motivation drive. This can be found naturally in protein-rich foods like turkey, beef, dairy, soy, legumes, and eggs.
Research in rats has found that when rats consumed 50% of their calories from saturated fat, they had reduced levels of dopamine in the reward areas of their brain as compared to rats who consumed 50% of their calories from unsaturated fat.
Studies in older women have also found a link between high saturated fat intake and poor memory, and poor thinking ability in humans. These are the same effects as having lower levels of dopamine. Foods high in saturated fat include; butter, palm oil, coconut oil, and full-fat dairy.
Research has shown that the gut and the brain are closely linked. The gut is also called the second brain as it produces a large number of nerve cells that are also capable of producing neurotransmitters, including dopamine (Wall et al., 2014).
Hence eating more probiotics will keep your gut healthy, which in turn can increase the production of dopamine in your body, which in turn increases your brain speed.
Exercising
Research has suggested that physical exercise improves brain functioning in terms of learning and memory. Moderate exercise for 30 minutes or so, whether it is running, jogging, or cycling can help in making your brain fast and sharp.
Get a Good Amount of Sleep
Choose a pleasant and calming activity that can help you fall asleep with relative ease. Getting adequate sleep helps in strengthening neural connections of the brain and thus improves memory as well as regulates emotions. This helps in sharpening the brain.
Stay Updated on Your Health
Just as you have to take care of your body, it is essential to take care of your mind. Health conditions such as diabetes, blood pressure problems, and hypothyroidism can affect your brain and cause problems such as depression and anxiety.
Social Connection
Social connection soothes the brain and calms it down. It helps in increasing the efficiency of inhibitory responses. Thus, go out and spend time with your friends or family members.
Meditation
Meditation is the practice of calming your mind and orienting yourself in the present moment. It includes letting your thoughts float without any attachment or judgement. Research has found that meditators have found about a 65% increase in their dopamine production, which helps them remain in a positive mood, and stay motivated, focused, and oriented.
Research has shown that long-term meditation causes long-term changes in the structure of the brain. Meditation trains your brain to be focused on the present and helps you not get overly attached to your thoughts. Thus, this way, it improves your ability to create new pathways and change the existing neural pathways.
Apart from these techniques, developing a meaningful life that you find worth living is the best technique to keep your brain healthy, fast, and sharp.
Three Parts of the Brain
There are three main parts of the brain, they are The cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. Each of these parts has specific functions that they are responsible for. They are:
The Cerebrum
The cerebrum makes up most of the skull. It is in control of memory, problem-solving, decision-making, and emotional regulation.
The Cerebellum
The Cerebellum is at the back of the head. It is right under the cerebrum and is in charge of balance and coordination.
The Brain Stem
The brainstem is situated under the cerebrum and it is in front of the cerebellum. The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord. It is responsible for the regulation of breathing, digestion, heart rate, and maintenance of blood pressure.
Conclusion
The article covered various ways to boost the brain’s activity and how to make the brain fast and sharp. The article also highlighted the three parts of the brain that make up the brain and its functions.
Frequently Asked Questions: How to Make Brain Fast and Sharp?
Does the brain go to sleep when we do?
No, this is actually a myth. The brain is extremely active when we are sleeping. Sleep is critical for the functions of memory, problem-solving, creativity, and general emotional well-being.
Do we use only 10% of our brain?
This is another myth about the brain. It is not true that we only use 10% of our brain. In fact, we use all of it, even while sleeping. Neuroscientists have now confirmed that the human brain is always active. We just don’t use it 100% all at once for greater efficiency and help the brain in working more effectively.
What can happen when brain processes malfunction?
When the brain processes malfunction, it can cause problems such as mental illness, tremors, Parkinson’s disease, and other motor system disorders.
References
Hryhorczuk, C., Florea, M., Rodaros, D., Poirier, I., Daneault, C., Des Rosiers, C., Arvanitogiannis, A., Alquier, T., & Fulton, S. (2016). Dampened Mesolimbic Dopamine Function and Signaling by Saturated but not Monounsaturated Dietary Lipids. Neuropsychopharmacology: official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 41(3), 811–821. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2015.207
Lardone, A., Liparoti, M., Sorrentino, P., Rucco, R., Jacini, F., Polverino, A., Minino, R., Pesoli, M., Baselice, F., Sorriso, A., Ferraioli, G., Sorrentino, G., & Mandolesi, L. (2018). Mindfulness Meditation Is Related to Long-Lasting Changes in Hippocampal Functional Topology during Resting State: A Magnetoencephalography Study. Neural plasticity, 2018, 5340717. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5340717
Lopez MJ, Mohiuddin SS. Biochemistry, Essential Amino Acids. [Updated 2022 Mar 18]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557845/
Okereke, O. I., Rosner, B. A., Kim, D. H., Kang, J. H., Cook, N. R., Manson, J. E., Buring, J. E., Willett, W. C., & Grodstein, F. (2012). Dietary fat types and 4-year cognitive change in community-dwelling older women. Annals of neurology, 72(1), 124–134. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.23593
Pal R, Singh SN, Chatterjee A, Saha M. Age-related changes in the cardiovascular system, autonomic functions, and levels of BDNF of healthy active males: role of yogic practice. Age (Dordr). 2014;36(4):9683. doi: 10.1007/s11357-014-9683-7. Epub 2014 Jul 11. PMID: 25012275; PMCID: PMC4150910.
Wall R, Cryan JF, Ross RP, Fitzgerald GF, Dinan TG, Stanton C. Bacterial neuroactive compounds produced by psychobiotics. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2014;817:221-39. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0897-4_10. PMID: 24997036.
