A brain expert gives her top tips on brain health and happiness (with a wow fact involving goldfish!)

By Tamsen, 12, Priory Community School Academy, Jill Dando News

Jodi Parslow, formerly of Priory Community School Academy, in Weston super Mare, Somerset, is now a Doctoral Researcher at King’s College London after completing a First Class Degree in Medical Neuroscience from the University of Sussex, and a Masters Degree in Neuroscience. 

Speaking exclusively to Jill Dando TV, interviewed by 15 student reporters aged 9 to 17, she gave her top tips on keeping the brain healthy. 

She added in some mental wellbeing tips to help us survive lockdown and the difficulties of the Covid-19 crisis.

And she said that human beings now have a shorter attention span of 6 seconds than that of a goldfish that ranks at 7 seconds.

Incredible the same statistic for humans in 2000 was 12 seconds but social media and ‘fast information’ at our fingertips through search engines such as Google has brought the figure down.

She said: “We are now so used to screens/easy access to information than our attention span has reduced to less than a goldfish!

“The brain is the most amazing thing about us. It’s the only organ that can think about itself. All of our brain is useful in some way; it’s a myth that some parts of your brain are never used. 

“I’m now most interested in the brain and gut interaction, but I am fascinated in any way that the human brain interacts with our bodies.”

Her advice to keep our brains and mental wellbeing healthy is:

1 Get plenty of sleep

2 Limit screen time

3 Drink lots of water

4 Have a balanced diet

5 Take regular breaks.

Jodi added in the importance of a healthy work-life balance. She said:. “Work hard but also make sure to rest and do things that make you happy!”.

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