“The Radiant Mind”: What Our Brains Need to Be at Their Best

But The Radiant Mind speaks not only of material nourishment, but above all of the immaterial nourishment that contributes to our "brain well-being ." Our brain loves love and friendship. Overwhelming evidence suggests that we need each other. For happiness, for health, and for longevity.

This is also demonstrated by what is emerging from the most recent studies on the many centenarians of Ogliastra. They live longer and healthier because they are never alone. Prolonged isolation, for our species, is a very stressful experience and can lead to elevated cortisol levels and an increase in chronic inflammation in the body and brain . This is why we hunger for human connection and experience pleasure when we are with others: with hugs, chats, and laughter, we stimulate the production of endorphins.

But it doesn't end there: our brain continually needs to learn . Learning, at every stage of life, means building a more connected, faster, and richer brain. It's often remembered that neurons begin to die at an incessant rate starting in our thirties, and it's not emphasized enough how important it is to cultivate the connections between neurons, the synapses. Neurons are the roads, and synapses are their confluences, hundreds of trillions of intersections, with traffic lights that keep traffic flowing. If the brain is like a metropolis, its map of paths and forks describes our cognitive reserve, that is, our mental capital, the wealth of experiences and skills we build over time. The more articulated the network, the more freely our thoughts move and create unexpected ideas. Cognitive reserve isn't just our accumulated knowledge. It also represents the brain's ability to resist, adapt, and react. The more synapses we have, the easier it is for us to find alternative pathways in the event of blockages: if one area of the brain is damaged, others can intervene; if a memory fades, a second will replace it.

In addition, the brain needs pleasure. Pursuing and obtaining gratification is one of the foundations on which a radiant mind is built, in a balance that isn't always simple. It also needs spirituality: a growing body of research has linked spirituality to positive health effects, including a lower risk of mortality. It needs wonder, because new research shows how awe can bring about well-being. And then the brain needs reading, an activity that allows us to live many lives. Finally, to be radiant, our mind must cultivate peace. An excess of negative emotions creates noise that clouds the mind. Studies show, however, that feeling compassion for others calms us and reduces stress. We can't say for sure whether we are naturally good, given that we evolved with the ability to do the best and the worst, but we know that generosity, cooperation, and altruism also make those who practice them happy. They illuminate the mind, making it radiant.