Credits: Social Media
Neurosurgeon shares 5 scary brain facts, from effect of alcohol to what happens when you sweat
The brain is an amazing thing. It’s the most complex part of the human body, responsible for just about everything we do – but I bet you don’t actually know much about it.
A neurosurgeon has revealed five facts about the brain that will leave you amazed, or a little scared. He says they are really ‘cool’, but some are actually a bit creepy!
5 ‘cool’ facts about the brain
Dr. Brian Hoeflinger, who has been practicing neurosurgery in the Ohio area for more than 25 years, shared the five facts on TikTok.
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1. The brain can’t form memories when you drink alcohol
Have you ever woken up after a heavy night of drinking and not been able to remember what happened? Well, that’s because when a person is heavily intoxicated, the brain isn’t able to form new memories. It’s not that you forgot, you never actually formed the memories at all!
2. When you sweat, your brain is shrinking
When you picture the brain, you probably think of a pink squidgy sphere, but it’s really made up of around 75% water. That means when you’re sweating a lot your brain is actually shrinking. That’s a pretty scary thought!
3. The brain is the fattiest organ in the body
The heart, liver and intestines all store fat, but the fattiest organ in the human body is the brain, which is composed of 60% fat. That is in terms of its dry weight and doesn’t indicate the percentage of fat by the total mass of the brain.
4. Your brain develops until you are 25 years old
Your brain continues developing far beyond childhood, right up until you are around 25 years old. The part of the brain that is located behind the forehead called the prefrontal cortex is always one of the last parts to mature.
5. 95% of our decisions are subconscious
If you think you’re in control of all your decisions, you are wrong. A huge 95% of our decisions are subconscious, meaning the majority of your actions and behaviors are decided by brain activity beyond our conscious awareness.
How to maintain good brain health
To keep your brain healthy, the CDC recommends doing the following seven things:
- Quit smoking
- Maintain a healthy blood pressure
- Be physically active
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Get enough sleep
- Stay engaged
- Manage blood sugar
These healthy behaviors not only prevent some kinds of cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, but can also help to reduce your risk of cognitive decline.
Dr. Brian Hoeflinger (MD) is a board-certified Neurosurgeon at The Toledo Clinic in Ohio who gained his neurosurgery degree from the Medical College of Ohio.
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