As you grow older, it is natural for the body and your brain to go through some changes. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to help prevent signs of aging like a decline in memory.
To help you slow down memory loss and lower the risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, The Skinny shares these tips on how you can keep your brain healthy:
Do Regular Exercises
You already know that regular exercise can help you stay fit and healthy. Activities like walking, running, cycling and dancing are not just good for your body. Exercises also help develop a healthier brain for better memory.
Staying fit can help your mind function at its best and keep you mentally alert. People who have a healthy diet and exercise at least 20 minutes a day have a lower risk of developing dementia.
Get Enough Sleep
It is during sleep that your brain gets a chance to rest and repair itself. As you age, it’s common to get less sleep, and you may have trouble sleeping through the night. However, not getting enough sleep can threaten your memory.
Sleep can help you remember things for longer and make you think faster. On the other hand, not getting enough slumber can make you feel irritable, can negatively affect your mood, and make you forget things more easily.
Start a Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet comprises fruits, vegetables, olive oil, nuts, legumes, and whole grains. The diet is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that help clean and repair your brain cells. What’s more, eating a Mediterranean diet can help you boost your memory.
You can eat a Mediterranean diet to lose weight and help you build lean muscle mass, too. That can also help improve your balance and coordination, which is essential to preventing falls, a common culprit behind memory loss in older people.
Be More Mentally Active
Staying mentally active—by challenging your brain to learn new things or by doing complex tasks—can also help you keep a sharp memory as you grow older.
You can also try these activities to stimulate your brain:
- Learn a new language
- Get a hobby
- Take up a new activity, like playing an instrument
- Exercise regularly
- Read
- Go to the theater
- Take a class at a local college
- Watch educational programs on TV
- Go on a trip
- Write something every day
- Practice playing an instrument every day.
Stay Socially Involved
Social connections can improve your memory. For example, staying connected to friends and family can help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Make sure you get enough face-to-face time with friends and family. If you don’t live near your loved ones, talk to them regularly over the phone. Too much time spent on social media can make it easy to lose touch with people.
Besides building good relationships, joining a club or volunteering can help you stay mentally active and meet new people.
Conclusion
Your lifestyle can either protect your brain or make you more susceptible to memory decline. As you age, it’s essential to adopt healthy habits to keep your memory sharp. Hopefully, the tips shared here by The Skinny can help you maintain excellent brain health even as you grow older.
The Skinny is the best free health newsletter that shares health and wellness information that you can trust. Check out our other posts and learn something new that can help you improve your health today!
