YOUR Wellbeing column provides tips or boosting brain function (“Improve your memory with 25 brain-boosting tips”, The Herald, August 28). “Read a nook” is one tip and “listen to music” another. I am all in favour of both activities and enjoy both myself.
My next tip after “read a book” would be “write a book” – well perhaps not a whole book. but at least letters (to The Herald would be a good start); or a diary of your daily life or of special occasions; or you could write anecdotes from your own or family members’ lives. You might want to write poetry or songs.
Similarly, it is wonderful to listen to music. It is even more brain positive to learn to play an instrument.
The moral is: passive is fine but active is better.
We should bear in mind, however, that a sound mind in a healthy body is a pretty good guideline. If you want a little brain training, try to work out if there is a causative relationship between the healthy mind and the healthy body; and, if so, which comes first.
Hugh Boyd,
65 Antonine Road,
Bearsden.
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