The simple hobby that shapes the brain and slows its aging
A new study reveals that birdwatching has surprising benefits for brain health. The simple activity not only improves mood and memory but may also change brain structure and preserve cognitive function in old age.
A new study reveals that birdwatching has surprising benefits for brain health. The simple activity not only improves mood and memory but may also change brain structure and preserve cognitive function in old age. In the study, neuroscientists compared MRI scans of expert birders' brains to those of beginners and found that the experts' brains were "wired" differently in areas responsible for visual perception, recognition, and attention. Researchers hypothesize that the brain undergoes a process of "neuroplasticity." Studies in nursing homes in Germany and the U.S. showed that installing bird feeders improved residents' condition, including dementia patients, within weeks. In Germany, health insurance companies have begun funding similar projects in hundreds of institutions.