Not Medical Advice: Brain stem is the structure responsible for basic vital life functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure.
Scientists say that this is the "simplest" part of human brains because animals' entire brains, such as reptiles (who appear early on the evolutionary scale) resemble our brain stem.
The brain stem is made of:
• Midbrain
• Pons
• Medulla
Learn more about brain structures and their functions at Brynmawr.edu.
Every brain changes with age and mental function changes along with it. Mental decline is common, and it's one of the most feared consequences of aging. But cognitive impairment is not inevitable.
Here are 12 ways you can help reduce your risk of age-related memory loss shared by Harvard.edu.