The best exercise for the brain are activities that challenge the mind and helps you learn new skills.
These exercises for the brain include learning new languages, physical activity and even games.
Staying physically active including through Aerobic exercise, mind body exercise are all good for the body and the brain.
To activate your brain you can challenge the brain with new skills and new information.
You can try learning a new language, reading, playing games, doing mental arithmetic, puzzles, learning to code etc.
Puzzles such as crossword puzzles, word finds, jigsaw puzzles and Sudoku are good for activating the brain and keeping you mentally fit.
Playing games like bridge, chess, computer games or bingo can also help activate the brain and keep it healthy.
Doing mental math instead of using a calculator can also keep the brain healthy and activate it.
Learning a language can improve memory, visual spatial skills and creativity and keep the brain healthy and active as well.
The brain can also heal itself overtime from anxiety and stress and overcoming anxiety disorder and panic and stress can help to repair your brain and return your brain to it's normal healthy state.
The brain can also repair itself from stress due to neuroplasticity but only to a certain extent.
The brain has the ability to rewire the neural pathways and adapt to new experiences and allows for some recovery from the effects of stress.
The brain can do better at repairing itself from stress when you implement stress management techniques and reduce your stress through social connection, meditation and exercise.
The amount of repair of the brain from stress will depend on the severity and duration of the stress.
Significant chronic stress can cause lasting changes in the brain function and brain structure.
Brain cells do regenerate but only to a certain extent.
Your brain cells regenerate through a process called neurogenesis.
Neurogenesis occurs in specific regions of your brain like the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb throughout your life.
The neurogenesis process is also facilitated by neural stem cells that reside inside the brain and have the potential to divide and differentiate into new neurons and other brain cells.
The brain can also repair itself to a certain extent depending in injury.
In response to a brain injury, the neural stem cells of the brain can become activated and produce new cells in order to replace any damaged ones.
This process of producing new stem cells is called regenerative neurogenesis.
However neurogenesis is limited in it's ability, scope and efficiency.
And the amount of new cells generated through neurogenesis is often small when compared to the total number of brain cells.
And any newly formed neurons may not always function perfectly or integrate fully into the existing neural network of the brain.
Age, genetics, exercise, diet and environmental factors also play a role in the ability of the brain cells to regenerate and repair itself.