But beyond obvious skills like learning to identify a cardinal by its song or gaining the ability to see subtle differences in seagulls, is it possible that birdwatching is substantially rewiring our brains? A just published study in the Journal of Neuroscience provides some of the best evidence to date that this popular hobby could change our brains for the better.

A recent study offers some of the longest-term data we have on whether a structured brain training exercise reduces the chances of being diagnosed with dementia decades later.

Yet emerging research indicates that certain psychological states may significantly impact on our risk for developing brain problems. This work has implications for understanding how we can better protect our brains, and why we need to consider the bigger, more comprehensive picture for dementia.