People are not doing enough to keep their brains healthy according to new research which revealed men and women do not realise how early the brain function begins to deteriorate.

The research found that 56 per cent of people think the brain does not begin to decline until age 45 or later, yet expert medical opinion claims deterioration can set-in as early as 18 years of age.

The research revealed a 'brain training gap' as 55 per cent recognise the need to train the brain even more so than the body (28 per cent), yet thousands are doing nothing, not enough or the wrong sort of exercise.

It revealed:

* 32% of people do not take any exercise to stimulate the brain
* 62% of people choose watching television as a way to stimulate their brain, yet the 'passive'stimulation that television provides means people are bypassing more effective activities that will have greater long term benefits
* 32% of people spend between £20 and £100 per month on their body yet 18% of people spend nothing at all on their brain
* 68% of people believe ad hoc learning is more beneficial than structured learning with only 17% choosing evening classes as a form of brain training.

The research found that many believe their brain function is in decline. 30% felt their brain had deteriorated in the last two years and 57% thought their brain had declined in the last five years.

Ray Dowd, Agenda for Change Champion at the LSC, which commissioned the research, explained:
"The results show that people do not recognise the need to train the brain throughout life, with a lack of awareness about the benefits of structured learning, which is one of the best ways to ensure the brain remains challenged and stimulated at any age. Further Education can provide the route to structured learning, and offers a huge choice of courses, which are frequently subsidised and accessible to everyone. Investing in structured learning will keep your brain active and have a positive impact on health and well-being which goes towards maintaining employability and improving the quality of life."

The need for people to train their brain to halt this level of decline was backed-up by Professor Ian Robertson, Professor of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin.

He said:
"Exercising your brain is essential if you want to stop it from slowly deteriorating. Our brains need to be stimulated and challenged through ongoing learning in the same way as our bodies need to be kept fit. This will ensure we see off the ravages of time which contribute to the decline of cognitive power.

"Just as our muscles grow as we exercise them, so do our brains physically strengthen as we learn. Continually refreshing your skills and knowledge is important at every stage and age in life and the benefits that will be seen will last an entire lifetime."

According to a host of medical experts, continuous learning at every stage of life is one of the best ways to ensure the brain remains healthy, and brain deterioration is kept at bay. Education and learning builds stronger connections between brain cells to slow down the ravages of time.

Learning a new skill, such as speaking a foreign language or taking an evening class in computer literacy is one of the most effective ways to stimulate the brain as it challenges the memory, attention and thinking centres of the brain in a comprehensive fashion. The more education and training a person has in their life, the more densely connected are their brain cells and brains with better connected cells work faster and better.

Other findings:

* The majority of respondents (88%) read books to stimulate their brain, with 84% doing crosswords or puzzles and only 17% studying through evening classes
* 41% of 25-34 year olds and 37% of 35-44 year olds spend between £20-100 per month on exercising their body yet 17% of both age groups spend nothing at all on their brains
* The majority of people questioned in the survey said they would most like to improve their memory (47%) and concentration (14%) respectively.