Time to get brainy: Five brain facts that will blow your mind!

1. Our brain gets hungry and needs food

A healthy diet keeps the brain healthy - 123RF

Despite its small size, such a crucial command centre of the body needs a lot of energy to operate. Thus, energy is supplied through the food we consume.

In fact, our food plays an important role in the brain which can even affect our mood so it is crucial to maintain a healthy diet.

Good and nutritious food leads to a happy brain and a happy brain makes a happy human!

2. The brain has unlimited storage

Storage capacity of the brain is unlimited - 123RF

The new iPhone 14 with 256 gigabytes of storage is nothing against our brains.

Studies have shown that our brain has approximately 86 billion neurons and these neurons will connect to other neurons forming up to one quadrillion connections.

The storage capacity of the brain is ever expanding because with more neurons combined, its storage capacity increases as well.

3. You definitely use more than 10 per cent of your brain

We use more than 10 per cent of our brain capacity - 123RF

A common myth about our brain is that we only use 10 per cent of its whole capacity and that is blatantly wrong.

Neurologists agree that even while asleep, our brain remains active firing millions of neurons and this fact proves that the brain is used for various activities ranging from minuscule and simple tasks to more complex ones.

In fact, scientists have not yet discovered an area of the brain that has no function.

4. The brain is mostly water and fat

The brain is mostly fat and water - 123RF

Almost hard to believe that the organ regulating our whole body is made up of just water and fat.

As astonishing as it sounds, the brain is just 75 per cent of water and is the fattiest organ of the body consisting of a minimum of 60 per cent of fat.

The next time someone gets arrogant, humble them by reminding them of the two things administering them, water and fat.

5. The Formula One car is slower than the brain

The speed of neurons transmitting information is faster than the Formula One car - 123RF

The information travelling in our brain transmits at an astounding speed of 360 km per hour and that is nearly as fast as Formula One cars.

The stimulation of neurons generates an electrical impulse that travels from one cell to another. The signals in these neurons are called action potentials and are responsible for allowing communication among neurons.

If the brain could race in the Sepang circuit, it probably would.

Do not take brain health for granted

We are all pretty much automatically bestowed with this greatness upon our creation. Although it was blessed on us for free, that does not mean we should be taking it for granted.

Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr Rajendra Rao from Aurelius Hospital said it is imperative for our brain’s health to be properly cared for.

“Keeping your brain active and sharp is only one part of the puzzle, you also need to consider how your daily habits have an effect on your brain,” he said.

He also said that chronic stress and sleep deprivation were everyday habits that have adverse effects on the brain.

Chronic stress may cause our prefrontal cortex to shrink which can impair memory and decrease the ability to learn while sleep deprivation causes overstimulation of the brain which can lead to cognitive impairments.

In Malaysia, the number of neurological diseases was expected to increase in the next 10 years making it the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality following heart diseases.

If our brain maintenance is low, we are actually subjecting ourselves to neurological diseases like stroke, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, brain tumours, cerebral aneurysms, epilepsy and even headaches or migraines.

Dr Rajendra also said that our lifestyle has a heavy impact on the brain.

“Since we have power over our lifestyle, it is our great responsibility to maintain a healthy lifestyle like eating well, exercising regularly, managing stress levels and getting sufficient sleep to ensure your brain’s optimum performance and lower your risk of brain disease,” he said.

He also added that we must also be mindful if we notice any signs of impairment in our neurological functions such as the disability in making decisions, thinking and even having memory problems.

“If you find that you’re experiencing any of these symptoms as well as sudden headaches or unexplained pain in your neck or back, do not hesitate to visit a neurologist and get a full check-up,” he said.