6 Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp

Use it or lose is the old adage, and it applies to your brain as well as your body. In this post, we’re going to give you a long list of things you can do to use your brain and keep it healthy.

Consider the alternative – succumbing to Alzheimer’s. This may sound draconian, but here are the harsh realities:

In 2020, Alzheimer’s affected 5.8 million people – that’s one in every 10 people age 65 and older

By 2050, unless there’s a cure or other medical interventions, that number will reach 18 million!

Happily, we may be able to do something about it.

A study cited in the Wall Street Journal article, “Our Amazingly Plastic Brains,” says it’s not a foregone conclusion that you’ll get Alzheimer’s, even if you have a genetic predisposition towards getting it. “Environmental factors interact with…genetic makeup to eventually allow or deny dementia a foothold,” according to the article.

The environmental factors we can control are:

How well we take care of our overall health, and

How much and how often we keep our brains stimulated.

Just as our bodies benefit when we push them by exercising regularly, our brains respond positively when we break the routine and challenge them. “It turns out that our brains, like our bodies in general, are far more likely to waste away from underuse than to wear down from overuse,” according to article.

So what are some ways we can deny giving Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia a foothold?

Here’s a list of things you can do to keep your brain sharp as you age, compiled from Harvard, Everyday Health, Prevention and others:

Keep your numbers under control

Blood sugar
Cholesterol levels
Blood pressure

Adopt Good Health Habits

Stay (or get) physically active
Eat a nutritious diet – vegetables, fish, avoid saturated fats
Maintain a healthy weight
Don’t smoke
Don’t drink excessively

Learn new skills

Painting
Playing a musical instrument
Learning a foreign language

Play challenging games

Crossword puzzles
Math puzzles
Mah Jongg
Sudoku

Increase social interaction

Book group
Volunteering
Part-time job
Adopt a pet

Manage stress

Focus on one task at a time
Meditation
Yoga
Exercise
Take a nap
Keep your thoughts happy
Get regular sleep
Set realistic expectations
Take breaks during the day
Express feelings and don’t bottle them up
Balance work and leisure time

Start small and build from there. We may not like getting old, but it beats the alternative, and wouldn’t you prefer to be one of the folks people refer to as “sharp as a tack?”

So what are you waiting for? Get out your chessboard, take up Yoga, or adopt a pet.

Your brain will thank you.

Discover Your Inner Artist! How and Why You Should Start Now
How to Keep Your Brain Sharp: 3 Great Ways to Build Your Mental Muscles
New Skills Equals Sharper Brain: 6 Ideas for Online Learning
6 Secrets to Happiness
The Joy of Audio Books – Take Back the Pleasure of Reading
Positive Aging: Why It Matters and Where to Start