Think Sharp

Root Vegetable Lasagna

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup diced carrots 1/2 cup diced parsnips 1/2 cup diced beets 1/2 cup diced turnips 1 large sweet potato 2 cups chopped spinach 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, minced 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 lemon, zested and juiced 1 cup loosely packed basil 2 cups ricotta cheese 2 cup cream cheese 1/2 cup grated parmesan 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella 1 cup breadcrumbs Nonstick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375F. Toss parsnips, carrots, beets, and turnips with rosemary, garlic, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the vegetables, but leave the oven heated. In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and mozzarella with lemon juice, basil, shredded spinach, and breadcrumbs. Slice the sweet potato longways into about 12–15 ultra-thin pieces. Coat a casserole pan with nonstick cooking spray and place about half the sweet potato slices along the bottom of the pan. Spread half the cheese mixture across the top of the sweet potato slices. Top the cheese with half the roasted root vegetables. Add another layer of each. Finish off with a sprinkle of extra parmesan and breadcrumbs if desired. Cover the casserole dish and bake for 55 minutes. Remove the cover and continue to bake for another 15–20 minutes or until the top has browned.

Think Sharp

THE BEST MENTAL EXERCISES FOR KEEPING A STRONG MIND

By Dylan Roche

First, the good news—the rate of dementia cases in the United States is down by 24 percent, according to the National Aging in Place Council. The bad news? There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease—the most common form of dementia—and it’s expected to affect another 84 million Americans by 2050.

The Alzheimer’s Association recommends treating your brain the way you would other parts of your body. If you want to keep it strong as you advance into old age, you have to give it proper use. Keeping an active mind means your brain is constantly forming new connections—in other words, forming new synapses between the neurons in your brain—and building new brain cells.

Looking to give your brain a daily workout? That’s great! Here are some activities that are effective in challenging your mind and protecting your cognitive health:

Crossword puzzles: It turns out these grids of blank squares that you have to fill in with answers from provided clues work your brain in multiple ways. When you know the answers to the clues, you’re using your ability to recall information. When the clues have you stumped, but you’re able to look at the letters you’ve filled in from other clues, you’re using your skills of problem solving and deductive reasoning. Sudoku: Sudoku gained prominence in the late ’00s, and for good reason—this puzzle tests your problem-solving abilities. Sudoku involves a grid of nine boxes by nine boxes, encompassing nine smaller three-by-three box grids. The challenge is in placing the numbers 1 through 9 in each row, column, and smaller three-by-three grid without repeating any of the numbers or leaving one out. Finishing a sudoku puzzle requires you to form a strategy and concentrate on following through with it. Logic word problems: Logic word problems present a scenario with multiple factors involved—for example, maybe you have three puppies, three differently colored collars, and three favorite dog treats. Your challenge is then to figure out which puppy wears which colored collar and prefers which treat. You’re given just enough clues to solve the outcome using deductive reasoning and process of elimination. Other activities: Even if you don’t have a book of puzzles on hand, there are plenty of mental exercises you can engage in. Try doing math in your head or using a pencil and paper (just don’t rely on a calculator). You can also make up a list of related items and see whether you can remember what was on the list an hour later. Even activities that require you to learn new facts and take in new information are great for you—read, listen to podcasts, visit museums, or play a board game that requires some element of skill, such as Scrabble or Monopoly.