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How can I improve my intellectual health? Dr. Mark Tramo, a neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School says,"We believe a handful of neural codes is used by the brain, so exercising the brain through music strengthens other cognitive skills. It's a lot like saying" If you exercise your body by running, you enhance your ability not only to run but also to play soccer or basketball." Ginkgo biloba: Ginkgo is gaining recognition as a supplement to improve cognition. It is also thought to be a vasodilator, anti-coagulant and free-radical scavenger. In a recent clinical investigation, the effects of ginkgo was compared to tacrine (Cognex) in elderly patients with dementia. Ginkgo was shown to produce greater increase in EEG activity. A meta-analysis on the effects of Ginkgo in Alzheimers patients also showed that there was a "small but significant increase in cognitive function in AD". Clearly, caution must be used in patients with bleeding disorders or on anti-coagulant therapy. (Courtesy of Frederick J. Goldstein, PhD) Relaxation, can help to improve your memory!!!! Diverse interactions: it’s a well-known fact that people learn from those around them. Experiencing it: if there is something in particular you want to know more about, give it a try or take a trip to visit it and learn about it first-hand. Playing games: games such as Trivial Pursuit, Jeopardy, and Cranium can be a fun way to add to your knowledge base while relieving stress! Even games such as Taboo require “thinking outside the box” and encourage creativity. Reading: although we do enough of this in medical school, reading and being a good researcher will definitely increase your knowledge. Asking questions: don’t hesitate to ask questions or express your curiosity to the people around you whether they are professors, coworkers, friends, or acquaintances. Testing yourself: try some of the quizzes online! |