Are we all the same smart from birth? “Every ability, every ability has to do with two factors. One is genetics and the other is conditioning,” explains the neuroscientist. The best conditions, the best genetics, lead to nothing if there is no conditioning, i.e. an appropriate environment in which you are supported and challenged early on.
“The structure that is responsible for short-term memory, the hippocampus, shrinks by around one percent per year from the age of 20 onwards. That’s not a good outlook,” says Manuela Macedonia. The more you activate the brain in the sensitive phase beforehand, i.e. in childhood, the fitter it will be in old age.
The time window is even smaller, especially in early childhood language development. “The maximum level of language proficiency is achieved in years 0 to 5. And then this learning curve goes down steeply at 45 degrees,” says the expert and therefore advocates, for example, English lessons in kindergarten. It would also be helpful for children with a migration background to start kindergarten early in order to make it as easy as possible for them to learn German as a second language.
“Our brain starts to shrink from the age of 20,” explains the expert. How can you keep your brain fit even as you get older? “By never stopping learning, by not giving yourself anything,” says the native Italian. She therefore advises everyone in the 50+ category to change jobs if their current job is no longer fulfilling. “It’s crazy to wait unhappily for 15 years to retire. It’s never too late to learn something, to retrain.”
Solving the daily crossword puzzle is not the right way, nor are any anti-aging computer programs. Rather, you have to actively stimulate things. “Memorize the shopping list instead of writing it down. Learn a foreign language,” she suggests.
And for everyone who is now thinking: What do I still have to learn in my “older days”, she also has an answer: “Learning is the best anti-aging for the brain. It’s like sport: you have to learn too try a little bit to make it help.”
Podcast “Club of the Clever”
“Club der Cleveren” is a podcast for people who want to surpass themselves. Regardless of whether you are looking for motivation in your everyday life, want to develop professionally or are simply curious about new topics, you have come to the right place at the Clever Club. We bring people with casual careers, impressive technical expertise and cool stories in front of the microphone. People you can learn something from. People who are simply clever.
Be part of our community and support us by leaving a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or sharing our podcast!
Follow us on the trusted podcast app and feel free to leave us 5 stars or comments!
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
YouTube Music
You can also find all episodes on www.nachrichten.at/podcasts or, conveniently, in the OÖN app under Media.
Feedback, ideas, suggestions or interest in advertising partnerships? Write to us: podcasts@nachrichten.at
Source: Nachrichten
