Because memories
are so valuable

Physical exercise - we all learned it from our parents and grandparents - is good for us. And it's good for our brain cells, too! Because when you exercise, blood flow to the brain is boosted and the oxygen supply to the brain increases by 30%. When more oxygen reaches the gray cells, they also get more nutrients. Not only that, regular exercise also ensures that fat deposits between brain cells are broken down, allowing nerve impulses to flow between the billions of cells without obstruction. All of this leads to more concentrated and creative thinking.

Not only physical activity, but also mental activity plays a major role in keeping our brain cells healthy. This can also be easily integrated into everyday life. Solve a Sudoku or other logic puzzle every day, or play memory games with your grandchildren from time to time. But you can also train your brain at work: For example, by using the computer mouse with the other hand. These little tricks can be worthwhile, because scientific studies show that a brain that is regularly exercised is less susceptible to Alzheimer's dementia.

Our brain cells work all day, around the clock, even when we sleep. So it makes sense that they need a vacation, too. Relaxation is good for our brain cells. Relaxation can look different for each person. Whether it's meditation to regain mental calm, an exciting book to escape the real world for a little while, or something we simply enjoy doing. Our brain cells generate positive thoughts and emotions during activities that we enjoy, which then in turn act as an amplifier for remembering and thus our memory performance.

Scientists have found out: Social contact has a direct effect on our brain structure. For example, they have found that the brain matter in some regions is better preserved in people who have a great deal of social involvement than people who have rather little social contact. This could be because humans are social creatures - and that sense of belonging is comparable to hunger and thirst. Of course, this may vary for each person, but the study's findings remain: Greater social involvement is good for our brain cells and keeps us mentally fit.

Stress is bad for our brain cells - not surprisingly. But why? In fact, we need to distinguish between short-term stress and long-term stress. Short-lived episodes of stress can be mentally stimulating, but chronic stress can shrink the regions of our brain responsible for our memory. Our ability to concentrate can also suffer. So to best support our brains, we should first recognize chronic stressors - and then find ways to avoid them.

We probably all know how important restful sleep is for our performance. We've all stayed awake one night or another and noticed that we were anything but our smartest selves the next day. But what is the reason for this? During sleep, the brain stores all the memories from our short-term memory into long-term memory. It also eliminates superfluous connections between neurons to make room for new memories and new knowledge. So if you oversleep for once, you don't have to fret quite so much, because at least this has supported your brain cells.