As we age one of our great fears is the loss or significant decrease of our mental faculties. Our mind is one of our great assets as human beings. However, getting older does not have to signal the loss of mental capabilities. They are plenty of ways to stay sharp over the years. Just because your body is not as active as it used to be does not mean that your mind also has to follow suit! Here are some great ways to keep your mind sharp!
1. Stimulation
The mind is very much like a muscle in a lot of respects. In one aspect, the more you work it out and stimulate it, the healthier and more active it will be. Research indicates that keeping your mind moving (stimulated) helps promote neural activity, can create new connections between nerve cells and even help generate new cells which can combat the loss of cells due to aging. Some great ways to work out your brain is to read books, stories, news articles, etc., play word games and other puzzles such as Sudoku or crosswords. Also, engage in activities that require your mind and body to work as one (activities that are great are the arts such as painting, playing music, etc.).
2. Exercise
Physical exercise is not only great for your body, but it is also great for your mind! Research shows that regular exercise increases the amount of tiny blood vessels carrying oxygen laden blood to the parts of the brain that promote thought. Besides promoting more thought, exercise also promotes cellular growth of nerves and increased connections between the brain’s synapses. With exercise, comes lower blood pressure, cholesterol, stress and a host of other health benefits that are not only beneficial for an aging heart, but also an aging mind.
3. Socialization
Having friends, a sense of community and socialization is great for morale and your overall quality of life. However, new research has shown that people who maintain a large group of friends or socialize regularly decrease their risk of dementia. The feeling of loneliness has been linked to mental decline as we age. Part of a balanced, healthy life is regular socialization. Going out and making friends is a great way to stay young in more ways than one!
4. Writing
Stimulating your brain can also be achieved by writing. Writing (even non-fiction) makes your brain stronger. The connections you make and create on paper help stimulate neural activity. As we’ve already discussed, the more active a brain is, the healthier it will be. Writing is a great way to really strengthen your brain and engage creative and critical thinking.
5. Sleep
The proper amount of rest is one of the most crucial aspects of maintaining a healthy brain. This is especially true as we age. The proper amount of sleep not only boosts your overall mood and sharpens your memory, but it also ensures that you are more alert and focused and ready to take on daily tasks and challenges.
6. Proper Diet
Taking care of your body is more than just getting enough sleep and exercising your mind and body. A large component to our overall health, especially as it pertains to the brain, is eating a proper, balanced diet. Not only does a poor diet put more stress on your body, but it also puts more stress on your mind, which makes stimulating brain health or development difficult.
7. Quit Smoking and Drinking
Smoking and drinking are bad for your health; we all know this, but they are also bad for your brain. Smoking leads to the build-up of plaque in your arteries, which increases your risk of stroke and it makes it harder for your heart to pump blood, which puts strain and stress on it, which puts stress on your brain. Drinking, on the other hand, has been shown to decrease cognitive abilities over the years and seriously affect memory alongside a host of other liver and heart related health concerns.
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