TEXT D Researchers have
established that when people are mentally engaged, biochemical changes occur in
the brain that allow it to act more effectively areas such as attention and
memory. This is true regardless of age. People will be alert and
receptive if they are faced with information that gets them to think about
things they are interested in. And someone with a history of doing more rather
than less will go into old age more cognitively sound than someone who has not
had an active mind. Many experts are so convinced of the
benefits of challenging the brain that they are putting the theory to work in
their own lives." The idea is not necessarily to learn to memorize enormous
amounts of information," says James Fazard, associate director of the National
Institute on Aging." Most of us don’t need that kind of skill. Such specific
training is of less interest than being able to maintain mental alertness."
Fozard and others say they challenge their brains with different mental skills,
both because they enjoy them and because they are sure that their range of
activities will help the way their brains work. Gene Cohen,
acting director of the same institute, suggests that people in their old age
should engage in mental and physical activities individually as well as in
groups. Cohen says that we are frequently advised to keep physically active as
we age, but older people need to keep mentally active as well. Those who do are
more likely to maintain their intellectual abilities and to be generally happier
and better adjusted." The point is, you need to do both," Cohen says."
Intellectual activity actually influences brain-cell health and size." What is the passage mainly about
A．How biochemical changes occur in the human brain. B．Why people should receive special mental training as they age. C．How intellectual activities influence brain health. D．Why people should keep active not only physically but also mentally.