Mind-Blowing Brain Facts & Things You Can Do to Stay Sharp

Your brain is an amazing organ. There’s nothing that you do (consciously or not) that doesn’t go back to your brain. From seeing and hearing the world around you to following a conversation to literally keeping your heart beating, your brain impacts every area of your life. Today we are bringing awareness to some mind-blowing brain facts and then we’ll share some things you can do to make sure your brain stays sharp!

Mind-Blowing Brain Facts

Did you know…

• Your brain’s storage capacity is virtually unlimited. You have upwards of 86 billion neurons, which means there’s the possibility of 1 quadrillion connections.
• A piece of brain tissue the size of a grain of sand has up to 100,000 neurons and potentially 1 billion synapses (or connections).
• The speed of your brain’s communication is faster than a racecar. Synapses fire and send electrical impulses at speeds of up to 268 miles per hour!
• As a child, almost half of your energy goes to your brain. This is why physical growth slows at key points in childhood development when cognitive development speeds up. 
• You can always form new neurons and connections. Even as an adult, your brain’s neuroplasticity allows you to not only create new brain cells, but to continually form new connections to make thinking, memory, and processing more efficient!

How Do You Protect Your Brain?

In light of these brain facts, how can you keep your brain sharp and healthy? There are lots of things you can do to maintain a healthy brain, but the foundational elements include:

High quality nutrition: Healthy fats and lots of key vitamins enable your brain to function more efficiently

Staying physically active: Keeping your body moving can improve blood flow to your brain and protect it from decline. Physical activity also boosts memory and focus in kids!

Get quality sleep: We all know that we feel more frazzled and confused when we’re tired. Chronic sleep deprivation (especially among kids and teens) can lead to thinking and learning struggles.

Keep stress in check: Working in breathwork, journaling, meditation, exercise, or other methods of reducing stress can help your brain stay sharper.

Stay connected socially: People with quality friendships or family relationships have better thinking and learning skills than those who are isolated, no matter their age. Both for kids and adults, prioritizing time with other people is so important!

Keep your brain active: The most foundational part of keeping your brain healthy is to keep using it! Exercising your brain through activities like reading, puzzles, games, and brain training can help you feel more confident in all areas of your life.

At LearningRx, we take a targeted approach to building brain skills to help individuals of all ages think, learn, focus, and remember more easily. Learn more about our approach to brain training here!