Mental Activity

Keeping the brain active seems to increase its vitality and may build its reserves of brain cells and connections and may actually generate new brain cells
Higher levels of education appear to play a role in protecting against dementia, possibly because brain cells and their connections are stronger, symptoms may still appear but later in a person’s life
Stay curious and involved – commit to lifelong learning
Read, write, work crossword or other puzzles
Attend lectures, plays, movies
Enroll in courses at your local adult education center, community college or other community group
Play games like checkers, dominoes, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy
Garden, cook, work mechanically
Perform memory exercises
Challenging the brain with new activities wakes up new areas
Try things you don’t already do – an accountant might study a new language
Challenging creates new pathways that appear to become alternate routes when neurons die off in middle and old age.

Social Activity

Engage in social interactions
Stay socially engaged in activities that stimulate the mind and body
Stay active in the workplace
Volunteer in community groups and causes
Join clubs (bridge, art, square dancing) and other social groups
Travel, experience new places, make an effort to learn about the place and it’s culture

Physical Activity

Exercise helps maintain good blood flow to the brain and encourages new brain cell growth
It significantly reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes which are risk factors for the development of dementia
It doesn’t have to be strenuous or require a major time commitment
It is most effective when done regularly, and in combination with a brain-healthy diet, mental activity and social interaction
Walking bicycling gardening, yoga and other activities for about 30 minutes daily get the body moving and the heart pumping and has been found to reduce brain cell loss
Leisure activities that combine physical, mental and social activity are the most likely to prevent dementia
Sports cultural activities, emotional support and close personal relationships together appear to slow the onset of dementia

Remember

To get maximum benefit from brain stimulating activities, do things you normally do not do
Take a class in a subject you feel you are not that good at, but are interested in
Paint if you do not consider yourself to be the artsy type
Write if you do NOT do that as part of your daily routine
Learn a foreign language
Do crossword puzzles, word searches, and Sudokus that are difficult, but not impossible

Relax and Sleep Well

During deep sleep, the brain repairs itself and boosts the immune system
During rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the brain consolidates information learned during the previous day
Poor sleep or sleep loss leads to fatigue, immune suppression, memory, concentration and mood disorders. Optimal learning cannot take place against a background of sleep debt
Seek help for sleep apnea as it increases the risk of stroke

Article by lifeseniorservices.org

Posted in News & Insights

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