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Article: How Old Is Your Brain?

How Old Is Your Brain?

How Old Is Your Brain?

Does your brain age match the age on your birth certiticate? We don't think twice about tracking our blood pressure, VO2 max, or even body fat-but when was the last time you thought about your brain?

It's arguably the most important organ in the body. Not only does it control and coordinate our actions, but it's also at the very centre of our human experience - allowing us to think, feel, form memories and even shape our personalities.

Yet despite its importance, most of us know very little about how well our brain is actually functioning - let alone how to keep it in peak condition. With cognitive decline now a major long-term health concern-and dementia affecting nearly one million people in the UK, I wanted to find out exactly how my brain was performing.

Testing my grey matter
My brain session takes place at the Aston Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment (HN) in Birmingham (aston.ac.uk), home to cutting-edge neurotechnology. The magnetoencephalography scanner (MEG) detects and records magnetic fields generated by neurons in the brain, measuring activity with millisecond and millimetre accuracy.

Originally developed for cognitive neuroscience research and pre-surgical mapping, this advanced tech provides real-time insights into cognitive function, offering a rare glimpse into how efficiently my brain is working.

To start, Caitlin Baltzer, MYndspan's CEO (mvndspan.com) gathers some basic information about my medical history and lifestyle-we dive deep into nutrition. sleep, and exercise, or as Caitlin calls them, the "three pillars of brain health".'Then, I tackle what Caitlin refers to as 20 minutes of "gamified cognitive assessments*. These are designed to measure things like my short-term working memory. concentration and cognitive processing speed.

There's a lot of shape-matching on an iPad screen, tricky questions to test my focus, and a series of true-or-false questions-all against the clock. I feel confident with the word games and matching shapes, but overall, I'm left uncertain about my score. Some of the quizzes leave me feeling pretty frustrated - especially Double Trouble, In this game, I'm asked to match the colour of the word rather than the meaning of the word itself. Sounds simple, right? Think again! My brain automatically wants to read the word, but I have to resist and focus on the color instead. It's the most challenging game of them all - and the longest two minutes of my life!

The brain scan
Next, it's onto the more technical part, Sian Worthen, IHN's MEG Technician, attaches a few wires to my head and neck, using a digital pen to fine-tune a 3D model of my noggin. She then asks me to sit down while she slowly lowers MEG's hood (which looks like an old-fashioned salon hairdryer) until it's sitting nicely at the top of my scalp. A cross appears on a screen in front of me, the lignts dim, and I'm left to sit as still as possible for ten minutes.

Through a loudspeaker, Worthen instructs me to look right, left, up, down, clench my jaw, take a tew deep breaths, and shut my eyes. This helps her adjust for even the smallest movements. All I have to do is focus on the cross, blinking as little as possible - and try not to fall asleep. If Worthen sees me drifting off, she talks to me through the speaker to keep me awake. Staying awake is harder than you'd think! Once it's done, 1 walk away and have to wait 24 hours for my results.

"Lifestyle modifications can significantly impact brain function and overall cognitive performance"

My Results
Let's just say my brain age doesn't match my metabolic age (which is 18-by the way!) or my actual age of 42. In fact, it's a whole 10 years older. My functional brain age clocks in at 52. I'm gutted. But Dr. Ben Dunkley, Chiel Science Officer at MYndspan, reassures me it's nothing to worry about.

Apparently, my sleep score isn't great, which as we know, can significantly impact our overall health and cause higher levels of Inflammation in the body, which can negatively affect the brain. My score for the Double Trouble cognitive test was also off-the-scale bad (I told yout). Dr. Dunkley reassures me that despite my dismal score on that one game, my overall cognition measured by the iPad games isn't that bad.

Nothing else is below average, and in tact, my working memory and grammatical ability are actually pretty good. I'm sitting right around average across the five games, and im convinced I could have scored much higher if it weren't for that ridiculous game.

My beta brain waves are also higher than average - which I deem as good - but according to Dr. Dunkley not so much. These waves are linked to focused attention, probiem-solving. and heightened cognitive processing. However, excessively high beta waves can indicate stress, anxiety, or overstimulation. I blame a recent break-up and a lot of over-thinking: the exact reason I can't sleep at night! My delta waves, the ones linked to physical healing, immune function, and overall health, are stable as are my theta waves Clinked to creativity and Intuition) and alpha waves (known for promoting calmness while maintaining mental clarity). My gamma activity on the other hand is coming in above average which suggests i have an exceptional ability to absorb and recall information. See, it's not all that bad.

The good news is that Dr. Dunkley reassures me that l can turn my well-aged brain around. "With the right adjustments, it's possible to improve your brain's health and cognitive function over time," Dunkley says.

My sleep is poor-it's letting me down. That stupid test didn't help either. On the positive side, my Alpha Peak frequency and connectivity analysis are all healthy. Dr. Dunkley encouraged me to focus on improving my sleep, perhaps lowering my above-average beta waves (my over-thinking tendencies), and doing more brain games like Lumosity flumositv.com) or The REACTIVE app. (a cognitive app designed by researchers at the University of Exeter and King's College London) to work on my concentration. He then suggests coming back to test my brain in a few months once I've implemented some changes (basically, when I've sorted my sleep!)

Although I'm not happy with my score, "You now have a new baseline," says Dr Dunkley. "You can work with these stats to track your improvements and spot changes over time," he says. This scan acts as a guide, empowering you to make informed decisions about lifestyle, wellness, and potential medical interventions when necessary."

Now that I have the variables, I can continue scanning my brain and use the results as a guide to help empower me to make informed decisions about lifestyle, wellness, and potential medical interventions when needed. Litestyle modifications can significantly impact brain function and overall cognitive performance, just like Ilfestyle changes can influence your body's function and physical performance. I've always been mindul of my body now it's time to be more mindful of my brain. After all, one can't be healthy without the other!

Boost Brain
The food:
wild-caught salmon. Cold-water fish-like salmon, herring, and sardines are some of the best foods for brain health. "Salmon is the ultimate brain food because they contain a type of omega-3, also known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which makes up a significant portion of neuron membranes," says Reichelt. "DHA also encourages the production of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which supports the growth of new neurons and strengthens neural connections."

The supplement: BodyBio PC BodyBio PC is packed with phospholipids-the essential bullding blocks of every cell in your body. Since your brain is made up of 60% phospholipids, levels naturally decline with age-by up to 20% by age B0-impacting cognitive function, energy, and recovery. This supplement delivers phospholipids in a pure, liposomal form to repair and protect your 70 trillion+ cells, helping to enhance brain function, boost memory, improve focus, and support overall cognitive performance.£64.99; bodybio.co.uk

The sadget: The Muse 2 Headband The Muse headband is a brain-sensing wearable designed to enhance meditation and focus, Using EEG sensors, it tracks brain activity in real time, providing auditory feedback-like calming weather sounds to guide you into a deeper state of mindfulness. If your mind wanders, gentle cues help refocus your attention. Regular use can improve brain connectivity, sharper cognitive function, and reduced stress. Whether you're practising simple breathing techniques or deep meditation, Muse makes mindfulness more accessible, helping you stay present From €225; choosemuse. com

The Treatments: Hyperbaric chamber By sitting in a pressurized chamber and breathing 100% oxygen under increased pressure, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) floods the brain with oxygen-rich blood-accelerating recovery. reducing inflammation, and even stimulating new brain cell growth. Increased oxygen levels enhance neuroplasticity, improve blood flow, and support cognitive function, making HBOT a powerful tool for brain health, energy, and peak performance. From £130; repose-space.co.uk

The games: kanoodle With 500 unique 2D and 3D puzzle challenges, this trending TikTok brain-teasing game puts your logical reasoning, problem-solving, and spatial awareness to the test. Simply follow the setup diagram from the puzzle book, hit the timer, and race to comolete the puzzle before time runs out. Whether you're competing against yourself or aiming to be the Kanoodle Ultimate Champion, this fast-paced challenge will keep your mind sharp and focused. It's pretty addictive - so beware! £21.95; learningresources.co.uk

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