Diet, Exercise and.... Doodling?
At the Penn Memory Center, one of the most common questions we hear is: What can I do to keep my brain healthy as I age?
We often reference diet and exercise as essential tools when it comes to maintaining a healthy brain. There’s another, often-overlooked way to boost brain health, fight depression, and support cognitive resilience. It’s not a pill. It’s not a trend. It’s something far more human: our hands.
On this episode of the Age of Aging, we explore the power of our hands and why using them intentionally can be an incredible medicine for the mind.
We begin with Dr. Kelly Lambert, a behavioral neuroscientist at the University of Richmond. She explains the link between our hands, human evolution, and depression. Then, Drs. Vasiliki Meletaki and Gyulten Hyusein from the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics discuss the benefits of hand movement as we age. Finally, artist Judith Schaechter shares her creative process in crafting stained glass pieces and how working with her hands has shaped her memory, mood, and creativity.
Resources
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Read the New York Times article featuring Dr. Lambert
Watch Dr. Lambert’s TED Talk
Learn more about Dr. Lambert’s lab
Learn more about the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics
Explore more of Dr. Meletaki and Dr. Hyusein’s research
Video displaying Judith Schaechter’s biophilic dome
Visit Judith’s website
Read Judith’s blog about her work