Aging and Staying Mentally Active

Aging and staying mentally active

Growing older often brings changes, yet many of these can simply be natural aging processes. We may forget where we put our keys or struggle to recall a name in conversation, but these temporary memory lapses don’t indicate dementia and lifestyle choices can often help mitigate such issues.

Physical activity, eating healthily and engaging in mental activities have been shown to aid with brain function and memory during the aging process. According to numerous studies, those who exercise regularly, consume an abundance of fruits and vegetables in their diet and avoid foods high in saturated fats are at a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Regular physical activity increases blood flow to the brain and may help combat some of the natural brain connections lost with age. Aim to engage in moderate amounts of physical activity every week such as walking, swimming or tennis playing.

Stimulating your mind can also help keep it strong; one study discovered that higher formal education was linked to enhanced memory in later life. Activities like reading newspapers or books; engaging in “thinking games” like Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit or Trivial Tribe; doing crossword puzzles or word games; or studying subjects that interest you all help keep the brain active and engaged.

Utilizing all five senses is one way to challenge and stimulate the brain, such as baking a cake or taking part in line dancing.