Short Wave

Mental ‘Workouts’ Could Keep Your Brain Young


Listen Later

Scientists have found the first compelling evidence that cognitive training can boost levels of a brain chemical that typically declines as people age. The results of this 10-week study back earlier animal research showing that environments that stimulate the brain can increase levels of certain neurotransmitters. And other studies of people have suggested that cognitive training can improve thinking and memory. So how does it all work? And by how much does it all work? Here to break everything down and help you understand how to keep your brain sharp is NPR science correspondent Jon Hamilton.

Interested in more brain science? Email us your question at [email protected].


Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Short WaveBy NPR

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

6,357 ratings


More shows like Short Wave

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,971 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

21,956 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,882 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

31,987 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,716 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,605 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,769 Listeners

Science Vs by Spotify Studios

Science Vs

12,222 Listeners

Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,410 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,516 Listeners

The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

9,535 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,363 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,740 Listeners

Consider This from NPR by NPR

Consider This from NPR

6,397 Listeners

Unexplainable by Vox

Unexplainable

2,316 Listeners