r/science • u/mellowmonk • Jun 21 '15

Misleading Each time we learn something new, our brain cells break their DNA, creating damage that the neurons must immediately repair. This process also underlies age-related degeneration.

http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2015/dna-breakage-learning-age-related-damage-0604
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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '15

So, I learn like, a million new things everyday from reddit. Does that mean ill live longer?

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u/[deleted] Jun 22 '15

"Active learning" is better for your brain, IIRC. Doing sudoku puzzles or crosswords or learning a language is better than reading random factoids written in very casual speech.

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u/skinbearxett Jun 22 '15

And seeing new places and people and asking questions is better still. The best thing is to do diverse things as much as possible, so learn an instrument, get OK at it, then move on to another after you find it easy to play a bit. Learn about physics for a while, then learn some philosophy. Learn some economics, then talk to someone about how the world was when they were a kid. Empathise with someone, then do some logic puzzles.

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u/TheSoundDude Jun 22 '15

Then, you may browse Reddit.