That's what a recent piece of research seems to indicate. From "Juggling Boosts Brain Connections" (Medical News Today):
Researchers in the UK found that learning to juggle boosts brain connections by making structural changes in the white matter of the brain. ...
...
Although previous studies have shown that learning and practising new skills like juggling that use the visuo-motor part of the brain lead to changes in the grey matter of the adult brain, it was unclear whether it had a similar effect in the white matter.
For this study ... [Dr Heidi] Johansen-Berg and colleagues used a new form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) called "diffusion tensor imaging" to show that the structure of the adult brain's white matter changes after practising juggling extensively.
...
Although previous studies have shown that learning and practising new skills like juggling that use the visuo-motor part of the brain lead to changes in the grey matter of the adult brain, it was unclear whether it had a similar effect in the white matter.
For this study ... [Dr Heidi] Johansen-Berg and colleagues used a new form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) called "diffusion tensor imaging" to show that the structure of the adult brain's white matter changes after practising juggling extensively.
Actually Johansen-Berg is not suggesting everyone take up juggling.
She said they just chose juggling as an example of a complex new skill for the volunteers to learn. However, she added that:
"There is a 'use it or lose it' school of thought, in which any way of keeping the brain working is a good thing, such as going for a walk or doing a crossword."
"There is a 'use it or lose it' school of thought, in which any way of keeping the brain working is a good thing, such as going for a walk or doing a crossword."
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