10 fun facts about your brain

The brain is a complex organ responsible for most of our body's functions. Check out these 10 fun facts about how the brain works.

1. The average adult human brain weighs three pounds and has a texture like firm jelly.

2. Every time your heart beats, your arteries carry 20-25% of your blood to the brain.

3. Every time you recall a memory or have a new thought, you create a connection in the brain.

4. Although 100 billion neurons (nerve cells) are in the brain, they make up only 10% of it. These neurons branch out to 100 trillion-plus trigger points, forming what experts call a “neuron forest.”

5. Size doesn’t matter in the brain. There is no evidence that a larger brain is smarter than a smaller brain.

6. The brain has 100,000 miles of blood vessels. The distance around the world at the equator is 24,900 miles.

7. Did you know that it is normal for your mind to wander? A joint study by Harvard, Dartmouth, and Aberdeen examined brain regions that control "task-unrelated thought" (like daydreaming). They found that these areas remain active even when the brain is at rest.

8. A New England Journal of Medicine study found adults in mentally challenging activities were 63% less likely to develop dementia.

9. Research shows highly fit women are 90% less likely to develop dementia than those with moderate physical fitness levels overall.

10. The harder you think, the more oxygen and fuel your brain will use from your blood – up to 50%.

Maintain your good health: Schedule an appointment with a Piedmont primary care physician online. 

Sources:

American Academy of Neurology

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Alzheimer's Association

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