Heath Tip: Myths About the Aging Brain

(HealthDay News) — Scientists are uncovering new information about the human brain every day.

But misinformation still abounds. The Global Council on Brain Health recently examined and disproved these myths about the aging brain:

MYTH: Older people can’t learn new things.
TRUTH: Something as simple as meeting new friends and remembering their names is enough to simulate the brain and keep it active. Going back to school or trying a new hobby are other ways to improve brain health.
MYTH: You’re stuck with the brain you were born with.
TRUTH: While many pathways for learning are created before birth, new pathways can be created in the parts of the brain that handle memory and learning.
MYTH: Experts don’t have a clue about how the brain works.
TRUTH: The brain is one of the human body’s most complicated organs. But scientists are learning a tremendous amount about the brain all the time. New treatments for neurological conditions are being worked on daily.
MYTH: Older people will inevitably get dementia as they grow older.
TRUTH: Dementia is caused by Alzheimer’s disease or medical conditions, such as astroke. Not all older people will develop dementia.