Wayne State University

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Wayne State University

Public Relations

Media Report

May 9, 2012

WSU's Institute of Gerontology part of Grosse Pointe Today's "How the Brain Ages" series

http://grossepointetoday.com/gp-fyi/aging-america/002805-brain-isnt-muscle-improves-work-so-just-do-it

A two-part series on “How the Brain Ages,” with researchers from Wayne State University’s Institute of Gerontology (IOG), offered interactive brain exercises and gave the audience practical information on how to give their brain a daily workout. One of the easiest and most beneficial exercises you can do is to simply switch hands to do daily activities like eating, buttoning a shirt, brushing your teeth and so on. Cheryl Deep of WSU’s IOG calls it “the magic of non-dominance.” Using your non-dominant hand to do simple tasks stimulates the neurons in your brain. “It’s like building muscle,” she says. “If you don’t force yourself to work harder, you will never get stronger. It’s the same thing with the brain.”

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