Five Easy Steps to Keep Your
Brain Young

Most healthy activities are also brain boosters. To keep a sound mind in your healthy body:

1. Eat smart. According to one study, following the Mediterranean diet lowered the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. This diet scrimps on meat but features lots of vegetables, legumes, fruits, cereals, olive oil, and fish.
2. Challenge your brain. To keep your mind alert, try learning a new game, musical instrument, or language; solving crossword puzzles; playing board games like chess or checkers; or reading. And turn off your TV. A study in Neurology revealed that older people who watched a lot of television lost more mental ground than moderate viewers.
3. Move it, so you don’t lose it. Exercise gets your blood circulating and boosts coordination. If you like variety in your exercise, so much the better. Doing both cardiovascular exercise such as walking or swimming, and mind-body exercise such as tai chi, aids memory more than doing just one type of exercise.
4. Quit smoking, if necessary. Smoking damages blood vessels, including those in the brain. So, it could well contribute to vascular dementia.
5. Beware excess pounds. A study in Age and Ageing found that the risk for dementia rises along with your body mass index. Need a slimming tip? Beware those liquid calories. Substitute fresh or sparkling water for high-calorie sodas and fruit drinks.