Two ways to stay mentally sharp
Regular
physical activity helps keep your heart, lungs, and muscles in shape
and can stave off the effects of aging. In much the same way, exercising
your brain can help keep your mind sharp and your memory intact. Here
are two ways to activate your brain.
Keep busy and engaged
The
MacArthur Foundation Study on Successful Aging, a long-term study of
aging in America, found that education level was the strongest predictor
of mental capacity as people aged. The more education, the more likely
an individual was to maintain his or her memory and thinking skills.
Other research has shown that people who held jobs that involved complex
work, such as speaking to, instructing, or negotiating with others, had
a lower risk of memory loss (dementia) than people whose jobs were less
intellectually demanding.
It
probably isn’t the years of formal education or the type of occupation
itself that benefits memory. Intellectual enrichment and learning
stimulate the brain to make more connections. The more connections, the
more resilient the brain. That’s how a habit of learning and engaging in
mentally challenging activities — like learning a new language or craft
— can help keep the brain in shape.
Stay connected
Establishing
and maintaining close ties with others is another way to maintain
mental skills and memory. There are several ways that social engagement
may do this. Social interaction and mentally engaging activities often
go hand in hand (think volunteering or tutoring schoolkids). Social
relationships can also provide support during stressful times, reducing
the damaging effects that stress can have on the brain.
Social
support can come from relationships with family members, friends,
relatives, or caregivers, as well as from a religious community or other
organized group.
Meaningful,
socially engaging activities may prove especially helpful. In a study
conducted with the Baltimore Experience Corps, volunteers were assigned
to either a waitlist (control group) or a group that helped elementary
school children during class and library time. Early results suggested
that participants who remained engaged in the program for many months
improved their executive function and memory.
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