Aging is a beautiful thing, but if you don’t keep up with your cognitive ability, many studies show that aging can lead to cognitive decline, like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Luckily, there are many ways to remain mentally sharp as you age, from keeping up with your social skills to trying brain games. The choice is yours.
If you’re interested in learning more about what you should do to remain mentally sharp as you age, you’re in the right place. From keeping your body in the best condition to trying brain games throughout the day, there are many things you can do. Read on to learn more about ten of our favorite ways to remain in one piece mentally for far longer.
1. Keep Up With Exercise
One of the best ways to retain mental acuity is to keep up with working out as a senior. According to one study, those who exercise are far less likely to get Alzheimer’s and dementia as they age. Those who work out will also develop neurons, which will benefit learning and memories as you take on new challenges as an older adult.
It doesn’t take too much working out to kick your brain into action. Something like fifteen minutes of walking on the treadmill will be beneficial, especially if you are walking with others and speaking to them simultaneously. Also, it can boost memory and mood, keeping stress and anxiety at a minimum while dealing with your daily routines.
Related: 10 Best Exercises for Seniors
2. Avoid Smoking and Drinking
If you want to improve your memory, one study shows that one of the best things you can do is to keep away from smoking and drinking. Lifestyle changes will make a difference, which happens to be the same things that will dramatically reduce your chance of stroke and heart disease in the long term. Keep away from smoking and drinking.
Those who drink alcohol regularly should at least try to cut down on their drinking, from many drinks a week to one or two. Those who don’t drink much should try to nix them out of their life. If you smoke in any manner, do your best to get cigarettes and other smoking out of your life in any possible way. Also, try to reduce sugary and processed food intake.
3. Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet benefits nearly every aspect of life, and one of those things is keeping your mind mentally sharp. To maximize your memory ability, you must provide your body with the proper nutrients to function and perform its job. There are still studies underway, but scientists have a pretty good idea of healthy diets for memory.
Eat items like:
- Berries, grapes, and watermelon
- Beets and dark leafy greens
- Cracked wheat
- Fatty fishes, shellfish, and crustaceans
- Olive oil and nuts
A solid mix of these items will serve your mind well. It’s also helpful to vary your diet every day. Still, even if you change things up, try to get these all in moderation every morning, noon, and night.
Related: Healthy Eating Hacks for Seniors
4. Socialize
Another way to keep your mental age far younger than your physical age is to socialize as much as possible. Not only will social interaction keep stress and depression away from your mind, but it will also help prevent memory loss, as these two items can lead to decay and disrepair in the brain. Simply keeping up with others will do plenty for your mind.
It’s helpful to search for local groups in your community to find a place to connect. You might join a local group at your church, find people who want to knit with you, travel with other individuals, and more. The more social interaction you can have, the better it will serve your mental sharpness as you age.
Related: Platforms For Staying Socially Connected for Seniors
5. Keep Up With Mental Stimulation
As you age, it’s vital to keep up with mental stimulation to keep every brainwave as sharp as possible. There are many ways to stimulate your mind, but the most critical thing is to do it every day.
Popular forms of mental stimulation include items like:
- Reading more
- Challenging yourself with a game
- Taking up a new interest
- Going out with friends
- Hand-calculating math
Try something new every day and don’t be afraid to take on new activities and experiences. There are ample options available for seniors who want to remain mentally sharp.
6. Try Brain Games
If you want to have an active mind, brain games are an excellent thing to try. Brain games are simple to incorporate into a daily routine, and they will challenge and stretch your mind in all the best ways. It’s a good idea to try multiple brain games to offer maximum stimulation to your mind.
Brain games include the following:
- Sudoku
- Crosswords
- Jigsaw puzzles
- Chess
Items like sudoku and crosswords are especially beneficial because they can be purchased in booklet form and happen in bed before you get up. They can also be purchased at differing challenge levels, which makes it easy to up your experience as your brain seeks more push.
7. Keep Stress At Bay
Stress is an unfortunately common issue in our society. More adults than ever experience moments of high stress, which can have a devastating impact on the mind. If you want to ensure you remain mentally sharp, stress must be something you keep as far away from your life as possible. It will only harm your mind as you age.
When you are stressed, your brain produces cortisol. The higher the cortisol, the greater the impact on your mind. Cortisol will make it much trickier to pick out memories from your bank. Luckily, there are ample ways to relax as a senior. You can try items like yoga, walking, meditation, reading, napping, and more until you find an effective way to slow your mind.
Related: Mindfulness for Well-Being for Seniors
8. Sleep Well
If you want to stay sharp, you must provide the rest your body needs to function. This statement means getting seven to eight hours of sleep or more a night, which will allow your body to recharge and slip back into a better state of being at the beginning of the next day. Sleep is a valuable addition to any life that many people forget about.
Not getting enough sleep is unfortunate for many people, and studies have shown this lack of rest can contribute to memory loss. Many seniors struggle to sleep thanks to snoring, so if this is an issue you face, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible to see if there is a way to fix the noise in your life.
9. Seek A Purpose
This technique is less common, but seeking a purpose in your life is an excellent way to keep yourself mentally sharp. Having a purpose can offer a defense against Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular issues, disabilities, and other forms of impairments as you get older. A purpose is something any adult should have, even in the older stages of life.
It’s far easier for younger folks to find a purpose in their lives, as it seems like there is far more to come and much less behind. However, that doesn’t mean older individuals shouldn’t have just as much of a purpose as their younger counterparts. Purposes can be anything, from the ability to retire to creating a masterpiece of a painting.
10. Listen To/Play Music
Listening to and playing music might not be something that a strong-minded individual would participate in, but it’s a beneficial selection if you want to keep your mind mentally sharp. Studies show that music can create new connections in the brain, which will keep the mind sharp and ensure memories and other brain functions remain in excellent condition.
The best types of music for memory tend to be the following:
- Minimalist
- Classical
- Piano
- Low-Fi
Also, listening to music is shown to reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, improve sleep quality, better your mood, create mental alertness, and assist with your memory. All these items will help with your brain function, along with permitting you to enjoy glorious tunes. Music is an exciting and enjoyable way to keep your mind going as a senior.
Final Thoughts
There are ample ways to keep your mind mentally sharp as you age. You can eat a healthy diet, try brain games, keep stress at bay, listen to and play music, and more to ensure all is well with your mind. It will take effort, but it will be worth it when your mind is sharp and ready to act at a moment’s notice.
No matter who you are as a senior or what stage of life you are in, it’s possible to incorporate at least a few of these items into your daily routine. From taking on a challenge of sudoku when the sun rises to attend a group in the evening, there are ample actions you can do – some all at the same time.
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