If you’re an avid bird watcher, you might be doing your brain a major favor.
According to scientists from Baycrest Hospital in Toronto, birdwatching could actually be a game-changer for slowing the cognitive decline that often occurs with aging.
The groundbreaking new study, which was published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found that the skills linked to birdwatching—such as having a longer attention span, a keen eye, and a strong memory—are actually deeply beneficial to brain health. In fact, the study found that developing these skills could literally reorganize the brain’s structure, improving cognition.
“Our brains are very malleable,” lead author Erik Wing, told NBC News. He said his team chose to study birders because observing and identifying birds in their natural habitats involves a…