OSTEOARTHRITIS – LIVING WELL WITH AN ACTIVE MIND

If you have osteoarthritis, it’s not only important to stay active and keep your joints healthy. It’s also important to stay mentally sharp and positive. Having an active brain promotes a positive attitude to life – an important factor in managing osteoarthritis.
 

Scientists used to think that the brain’s ability to change (known as brain plasticity) in response to stimuli, for example in learning, occurred only in younger people. We now know that the brain retains its plasticity throughout life.
 

What’s more, you need to keep using your brain to keep it functioning well. Research shows that adults who completed computer-based training sessions demonstrated improvement in a range of brain functionality measures, including memory.
 

Try these activities to keep your mind sharp at any age:

• Solving puzzles and word games
• Learning a language
• Playing an instrument
• Reading, writing, painting and drawing

Your brain is like a muscle. The more frequently you engage in mental activity, the stronger your brain gets. You should aim to combine mental, physical and social stimulation, as there’s evidence that the combination is greater than the sum of its parts in helping you live life to the fullest.