Experts Identified Brain Chemical That Affects Learning Ability

While cognitive decline is a process tied to age-related degeneration, there are ways and means to slow the process or delay it. According to a study published in the journal Science, a certain chemical messenger in the brain may influence the learning ability in adults. The study was conducted on mice module wherein it was found that limiting the supply or the function of a chemical called adenosine in the brain could preserve the ability of adult mice to learn.Much as young children pick up language simply by hearing it spoken, when adenosine was reduced or the A1 receptor blocked in the auditory thalamus, the adult mice responded to the tone much stronger when it was played weeks or months later than before.While brain development is at its peak during childhood, certain activities and proper diet can help ensure full-blown cognitive development and enhanced brain power. Playing Sudoku, solving puzzles and indulging in analytical reasoning are some of the most common ways through which brain can be exercised and kept agile. Learning a new skill or a language is also helpful. A proper diet can also go a long way in increasing brain power. Food items like nuts, seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables and foods rich in iron and omega 3 are often associated with increasing brain power. Something as simple as sniffing the aroma of rosemary oil may benefit the memory. Rosemary oil is believed to have an impact on the electrical activity in the brain.Inputs from PTI