Thursday, June 11, 2009

Cross Stitch and the Art of Memory Preservation

Fascinating bit today on the NYT web site about a study looking at ways to prevent memory loss. In a nut shell, learning a new skill -- for example, taking up a new hobby such as cross stitch -- can help keep your mind agile, alive, and engaged.

Quote of the day:
"When it comes to mental agility, we’re more likely to think of crosswords than cross-stitch. But neuroscientists suspect that learning a challenging new skill — a new language, a new musical instrument — may be even more effective than mental games at keeping the brain sharp."

I'm totally behind that! An intellectually complex and mentally challenging activity such as cross stitch -- which has lots of different aspects to it that can be focused on, developed, and enjoyed over time -- can provide learning experiences for years.

Cross stitch: fun, rewarding, and good for the mind!

Pardon me, I think I need to go develop some neural connections and fire a few synapses... quick, where's my needle and the instructions for that new technique I've been meaning to try?

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