7 Ways to Save Your Brain

A 2009 Mayo Clinic study found that of 1,300 people ages 70 to 89, those that had regularly engaged in mentally challenging activities, such as reading, playing games, and doing crafts, in their 50s and early 60s were 40 percent less likely to develop memory loss than those who hadn’t. Follow these simple steps to stay sharp as you age.

Hone your manual skills: Learn a new instrument, start quilting, build a model airplane, or get going on those carpentry projects you’ve been putting off. Such activities not only help promote hand and finger dexterity, they also foster the development of new neural connections.

Learn one new word every day: This engages the brain’s language centers, frontal lobe, and memory circuits. “It’s like aerobics for your brain,” says George Washington University Neurology Professor Richard Restak, MD.

Challenge your short-term memory: Although iPhones and BlackBerries may be convenient, they have one downside: They’ve robbed us of the need to commit things to memory. Do it anyway. Memorize your grocery list, your friends’ phone numbers, the US presidents in order, every state’s capital city. As the saying goes, if you don’t use it, you lose it.

Mix it up: Try a wide variety of mental games, from crossword puzzles to computer games. Experts say seniors tend to do what they’re good at–over and over again. While that may improve proficiency, it doesn’t form new neuronal connections or boost neurotransmitter production in the brain like new and diverse experiences do.

Be friendly: Engage in social activities as much as possible. Multiple studies have shown that living a solo life can vastly increase your risk of dementia. One recent Swedish study of 2,000 men and women found that people living alone at age 50 had twice the risk of developing dementia 21 years later than those who were living with a partner in middle age.

Shut the TV off: Research shows that those who watch minimal TV are as much as 50 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

Keep working: Resist the temptation to retire early. A recent British study of 382 men found a significant association between later retirement and later onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Read more: Alzheimer's, Health, Mental Wellness

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

JL A.

3:00PM PST on Feb 20, 2013

good to know

February 20
send a green star

Patricia H.

1:34AM PST on Dec 18, 2012

thanks for the tips

December 18
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Thomas P.

5:16PM PDT on Sep 26, 2012

Practicing martial arts is also a way to improve brain function, in addition to staying in good shape.

September 26
send a green star

Nimue P.

8:17PM PDT on Apr 2, 2012

Great tips :)

April 2
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Faith B.

8:33PM PDT on Sep 24, 2011

great article, thanks for the info! :)

September 24
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Past Member .

7:17PM PDT on Sep 24, 2011

The brain has an intelligence of its own.

If an uncomfortable experience occurs, perhaps a trauma, and it just doesn't make sense, the brain itself will obsess. This is information given to me by a medical doctor, a psychiatrist and a priest when I was having a problem with obsessing.

Paul B.

2:40AM PDT on Aug 11, 2011

Want to save your brain and avoid Alzheimer's, put top on your list to avoid yearly flu vaccinations. Then learn to eat a raw plant based diet.
Doc Blake

"Dr. Gherardi emphasizes that once the aluminum is injected into the muscle, the immune activation persists for years. In addition, we must consider the effect of the aluminum that travels to the brain itself. Numerous studies have shown harmful effects when aluminum accumulates in the brain. A growing amount of evidence points to high brain aluminum levels as a major contributor to Alzheimer's disease and possibly Parkinson's disease and ALS (Lou Geherig's disease). This may also explain the 10X increase in Alzheimer's disease in those receiving the flu vaccine 5 years in a row. (Dr. Hugh Fudenberg, in press, Journal of Clinical Investigation). It is also interesting to note that a recent study found that aluminum phosphate produced 3X the blood level of aluminum, as did aluminum hydroxide. (Flarend RE, hem SL, et al. In vivo absorption of aluminum-containing vaccine adjuvants using 26 Al. Vaccine 1997; 15: 1314-1318.)"

From the article: The Truth Behind the Vaccine Cover-Up. Russell Blaylock, M.D.

Dr. Paul Blake, N.D.