Vegetables and especially leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, kale, broccoli and collards.They’re also associated with diets that help manage blood pressure and lower the risk of obesity and diabetes. According to the Mayo Clinic, noshing on some of the healthy foods below (and skipping unhealthy items) can slow brain aging by as much as 7.5 years. Some of the best foods for your body are good for your brain health, too. What is the ideal diet for optimal brain function? Learning new skills and doing daily brain boosting activities.Improving your sleep so you get 7 to 8 hours a night and.Avoiding falls or certain sports that can lead to head injuries.Reducing stress and treating depression.Eating healthy and avoiding obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.While you can’t control your age or your genetic makeup, there are plenty of lifestyle choices that enhance mental function, reduce risks to cognitive health and lower the likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Yes, seniors can improve their brain health. What is the healthiest lifestyle possible for the brain? Read 8 stimulating activities to stay mentally sharp as you age to better understand brain “plasticity” and how you can help your brain cells better connect and communicate with a healthy diet, physical exercise, brain activities and more. And yet we can continue to learn and make healthy choices that optimize the integrity of our brain - even late in life. It’s normal and common for older adults to find multitasking or recalling words or names a bit slower, for example. As we age, our brains change, sometimes shrinking in certain regions or getting less blood flow. We take our brain for granted, yet this vital organ controls thinking, emotion, memory, motor skills, touch and all the processes that regulate our body, like breathing. As Samantha Edhouse, a Life Enrichment Coordinator at Amica Newmarket, says, “Our residents love playing Jeopardy and Trivia together, listening to visiting guest speakers like historian Lianne Harris and participating in current event groups, where seniors discuss the news.” What is brain health? Residents at Amica know all about fun and engaging social activities that enhance brain power. (And in some cases, even lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.) From mind stimulating activities like playing board games to dancing with friends, read on to discover the best ways to exercise your aging brain. In the same way that daily physical activity strengthens your body, you can also make smart choices to boost your brain health, cognitive abilities and memory, as well as your mental health and quality of life.
Do you want to keep your brain sharp and problem-solving skills intact for as long as possible? Good news: it can be as easy as doing Wordle or Sudoku puzzles each day, socializing, going for a sunny walk or playing your favourite tunes.