15 Feb To Speak Out
The word Eloqui is straightforward, except that it’s in Latin. Ex or e means out, and loqui is the verb meaning to speak. In Ancient Rome, it meant to speak effectively, persuasively, or with eloquence. Fast forward 2,500 years:
The most recent studies on memory and speaking indicate that young adults who favor texting over verbal communication miss a critical brain exercise that guards against cognitive decline. Social isolation can also cause the brain’s prefrontal cortex to shrink and the limbic system to become hyperactive, leading to problems with memory, focus, and emotional regulation.
For mature adults, lack of speaking or communicating leads to an increased risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s. Slower speech rates can follow, along with pauses, “uh” and “um’s,” difficulty in finding words, and in extreme cases, the diminishment of speaking altogether.
At any age, a decline in the complexity of your vocabulary and communicating in phrases, rather than sentences can be a precursor to cognitive impairment. This includes texting, contractions, and emojis when writing. Keep your brain firing with longer arcs of thought, but your speaking clear and efficient. And e+loqui; speak out so you use it and never lose it.
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