How to Keep Your Brain Healthy, Fit, and Age-Resistant

ONE OF THE worst things about aging is the risk of memory loss and dementia. Fortunately, just like you can workout your body and build muscles, you can work out your brain and build it up too. Start training your brain now to prevent memory loss and dementia when you get old.

Play a Musical Instrument Spend a five or ten minutes a day playing a musical instrument. Playing an instrument uses different parts of your brain than most of the other tasks, which will help you build up some of the underdeveloped portions of your brain and form many new neural connections. The more neural pathways in your brain, the more resistant it is to memory loss. Think of it like a highway: the more lanes there are, the more difficult it is to block off the entire highway.

Learn a New Language Speaking of making new neural connections, learning a new language will do that for you too. In fact, learning a new language and spending some time using it by talking to people or watching TV in that language is one of the best reinforcements

against age-related cognitive decline.

Do a Puzzle a Day Puzzles give your problem solving skills a workout, and that really builds up your brain. Every day you should do something like a crossword puzzle, sudoku, or some other kind of puzzle. Not only will this habit protect your brain as you age, as an added bonus it will make you smarter now.

Take Adult Education Courses When you learn, you make a lot of new neural connections. Take whatever adult education courses are being offered in your community. Audit courses at a local college. Attend lectures at the library. It almost doesn't matter what you learn. Any learning will make your brain stronger. Plus, you will get to learn all kinds of interesting things, develop new skills, and make new friends.

Socialize Speaking of friends, socializing is another good way of strengthening your brain. In fact, if you get together with them once a week to play games, you'll be giving your brain an especially good workout, because games also provide a boost.

Switch Up Your Routine Now and Then Sometimes you should change your routines just for the sake of change. Drive to work a different way. Eat at different restaurants. Watch new shows. These changes in routine make your mind more flexible, and keep it more alert.

Eat a Balanced Diet Eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Your diet should be low in fat have plenty of foods with anti-oxidants.

Exercise Regularly Exercise improves the blood flow to your brain. It keeps your brain's support systems working well. Exercise regularly, and your brain will be as fit as your body.

The Takeaway Now that you know you can take steps to protect your brain as you age, don't wait. Get started on these exercises today. You'll thank yourself in your old age. HL