Brain Food: This is why I'm happy!

'Know that saying -- It's all your head -- well, Duh. Now, adding new experiences to the menu could juice up your pleasure zone as you age, suggests recent brain studies.

'Got that fear of turning into a bad cartoon version of that grumpy-old-man (or woman) --spouting Scrooge's catchphrase, 'Bah, humbug!' as you're sitting alone feeding the birds in the park -- go on and blame it on lower dopamine rushes -- which declines with age... (dopamine is that hormone that makes you feel good and rewards you for exciting behaviour).

Insert your fav. -- 'if you don't use it, you'll lose it' -- saying, right here.

This study clears up those negative-Sally shifts in brain responses dealing with -- 'rewards, pleasure and motivation systems' that comes along with aging.

'For most people, everything goes into decline after 30,” says Men's Health. 'As you age, your overall levels of dopamine start to fall, and your pleasure response will fire from a lower starting point.'

'Could be how that -- 'can't please old folks' saying got started.

'but, it doesn't have to be that way says the forever optimist in me: 'You can pump up the neurochemicals chemicals in the brain targeting these dopamine mechanisms in new ways as you get up there in the years.

Think about why marriage counsellors recommend regular 'date nights' or weekend getaway for couples...

'Cause when people have new experiences, dopamine spikes in the brain, keeps those happy-juices-flowing.

So, while you're out in your walker (or right now) -- bring along the freak-hiding-inside-us-all and do something new and exciting.

'All comes down to Feeding-your-brain:

Image Credit: Subway Artist Gio Black Peter

Source: Scientific American