Have you ever heard that your brain is like a muscle? As in, if you stop using your brain, it will stop working as well. A recent study covered by WebMD definitely suggests this to be the case. Here is a quick excerpt to summarize the point:

Lab experiments show that if you put brain cells in a Petri dish, “they will form connections and survive. But if you put just one cell in the dish, it will die,” Jicha says.

Reading, playing games, and other activities stimulate brain cells to connect and flourish, he explains.

-WebMD, “Brain Exercise May Delay…”

In the study, participants cognitive abilities were compared to the level of mental activity they underwent on a day to day basis. Researchers noted a strong correlation between high levels of mental exercise and decreased memory loss.