Tag Archives: Sam Wang

March 31, 2017 · 6:20 am

Is Physical Exercise Better Than Brain Exercise for Seniors?

The split between mind and body seems clearest in the realm of exercise. Each is good for us, but is one better?

Professor Sam Wang, Ph.D. Molecular Molecular Biology and Neuroscience, Princeton University covers the subject extensively in Lecture 23 of his course The Neuroscience of Everyday Life which I took from The Great Courses.

Opinion has been split on the subject.

“It is exercise alone that supports the spirits and keeps the mind in vigor.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero – 65 BC.

“Exercise invigorates and enlivens all the faculties of body and mind…. It spreads a gladness and a satisfaction over our minds and qualifies us for every sort of business, and every sort of pleasure.” – John Adams, Second President of the U.S.

On the other hand, that curmudgeon, Mark Twain said, “I take my only exercise acting as pallbearer at the funeral of my friends who exercise regularly.”

Brain

The business of brain-training is a multi-million dollar operation. It includes software and games we can play on our computers, Nintendo, smart phones as well as specialized machines. Also, there are the puzzles, like Sudoku, crosswords and other pattern recognition games.

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Filed under aging brain, brain, brain exercise, brain function, brain health, cardio exercise, Exercise, exercise and brain health

Tagged as brain, brain health, Exercise, Sam Wang

July 10, 2011 · 7:23 pm

Is Physical Exercise Better Than Brain Exercise for Seniors?

The split between mind and body seems clearest in the realm of exercise. Each is good for us, but is one better?

Opinion has been split on the subject.

“It is exercise alone that supports the spirits and keeps the mind in vigor.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero – 65 BC.

On the other hand, that curmudgeon, Mark Twain said, “I take my only exercise acting as pallbearer at the funeral of my friends who exercise regularly.”

Brain

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Filed under aging, brain, brain exercise, Exercise

Tagged as aging, brain, brain exercise, Exercise, PhD, physical exercise, Sam Wang

July 9, 2011 · 9:08 pm

What is a Key Factor in Maintaining Brain Function in Later Life?

The number one factor in maintaining brain function in later life is (drum roll, please) – an educated, active brain. Studies show that the more education you have, the more you are able to retain cognitive function and mental abilities as you age. So says Sam Wang, Ph.D. Professor of Molecular Biology and Neuroscience, Princeton University.

Professor Wang is the lecturer in the current course I am taking from The Great Courses entitled The Neuroscience of Everyday Life.

Additionally, Professor Wang is the co-author of the best-selling book Welcome to Your Brain which has been translated into 20 languages. I alluded to this book in my post entitled Tricking Your Brain into Helping You Lose Weight.

Why is it that the more education you have the more healthy a brain you possess as a senior citizen? Dr. Wang suggests that possibly higher education gives us mental tools for thinking. Also higher education is the province of people who are curious. So, in real life curiosity doesn’t kill the cat it builds skills in the dude.

He concludes, “There is something about an intellectually engaged lifestyle which is positively correlated with retained function late in life.”

He also suggested that having multiple hobbies, traveling and learning a new language contribute positively to retaining cognitive functioned and mental abilities as we age.

“Active learning is important in retaining mental function,” He said, “When you lead an intellectual lifestyle that builds up your cognitive capacities and they serve you well as you get older and decline less.”

Actually, there are a number of factors in maintaining brain function in later life. Please check out my page Important Facts About Your Brain (and Exercise).

Tony

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June 16, 2011 · 4:15 am

Tricking Your Brain Into Helping You Lose Weight

Regular readers know that I am retired and have been taking courses from The Great Courses for some time. Lately, I have become fascinated with the brain and how it functions.

The latest class I am studying is “The Neuroscience of Everyday Life” taught by Sam Wang, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Molecular Biology and Neuroscience at Princeton University. Additionally, Professor Wang is the co-author of the best-selling book Welcome to Your Brain which has been translated into 20 languages.

Here is the best-selling book Professor Wang co-wrote

I have only just begun reading the book, but I ran across a passage on page 36 that I thought would interest and benefit readers of the blog. The following is from a two-page write-up titled Tricking Your Brain Into Helping You Lose Weight.

This is the conclusion of those two pages:
“Early food exposure influences dietary preferences in adulthood, and eating habits formed in childhood follow many of us around for the rest of our lives.

“Contrary to popular belief, eating correctly doesn’t involve deprivation and hunger. If you are constantly hungry, you are probably not eating right. Your brain’s hunger sensors respond to stomach fullness and to fat and sugar in the bloodstream. To reduce hunger, try combining a large amount of low-calorie food like salad or vegetable soup with a small amount of fat.”

This sounds like a really worthwhile technique. Getting to understand how the brain hunger signals work can be very useful in fighting the battle of the bulge.

“Finally, find some passion in your life beyond eating. It’s much easier to keep your weight down if you have other interesting things to think about. Trips between the television and the refrigerator do not count as exercise or a hobby.”

From the chapter heads, I expect to have more ideas from the book to share with readers. If you can’t wait for snippets from me, I suggest buying the book. It came out several years ago.

Tony