Recently, I’ve referenced “The Nun Study” in my seminars when discussing the importance of challenging our brains to grow neural connections. Many have not heard of this study. So, in order to facilitate further discussion and learning on the topic, I’m posting some links here.

The Nun Study at the University of Minnesota where the research is headquartered.

Time magazine wrote an excellent article on The Nun Study in 2001. A quote from that article “…a college education and an active intellectual life, on the other hand, may actually protect you from the effects of the disease. Perhaps the most surprising result of the Nun Study, though, is the discovery that the way we express ourselves in language, even at an early age, can foretell how long we’ll live and how vulnerable we’ll be to Alzheimer’s decades down the line.”

I read about the study and remember how sharp my dad was at 78 years old. He did a crossword puzzle every day, spoke two languages fluently and was an avid reader. He was sharp until the day he crossed over.

Seems to me that it’s a gift to our students to teach them to love reading, writing and on-going learning.

Memory and Brain Power

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