That depends on you.
Your brain shrinks if you don't use it.
We used to think that the brain had an optimum size when we were young adults and then gradually and inevitably declined with age.
Here is great news.
We were wrong.
Modern neuroscience has discovered that we grow new brain cells all the time.
Moreover, our brain also grow new connections all the time.
These two processes are called neurogenesis and neuroplasticity.
Neurogenesis is the process of growing new braincells.
Neuroplasticity is the process whereby your existing braincells grow new connections with other braincells.
One fact that always blows me away: Each braincell connects with thousands of other braincells, and because we have so many cells and so many connections between them...
there are more connections between braincells than there are atoms in the entire universe.
Not the world, no, the entire universe.
I know.
I don't quite comprehend it myself.
But that's not what I am talking about.
We grow new brain cells all the time.
But you want to know how you can improve that process, don't you? Well, you grow your brain by using your brain.
It really is not any different from your muscles.
You have to work at it.
But it's true, every time you learn new things, your brain grows new connections.
There are other things you can do.
The simplest thing you can do is...
Walking.
If you walk for 40 minutes, three times a week, your brain is growing new connections.
In other words, not only does you brain not shrink automatically, you have all that you need to make your brain grow and form new connections.
All you need to do is keep learning and keep moving.
You know what that is called: Living! Keep living an engaged life.
Be involved with your community, your family.
That is the simplest way.
When you stay engaged, you will have to move just to see the people you need to see and you will have to learn new things just to keep up with all that is going on around you.
In particular if you stay engaged with young people.
Margaret Mead used to say that young people know the most about the world as it really is.
Stick around them and learn.
Don't give up on the latest trends, just because technology is involved.
It is how young people connect and live in this world.
Don't do technology so you can make it easier on yourself.
Use it to be part of the world.
Live...
And you brain will not shrink.