We’re all looking for easy ways to keep our minds sharp as we get older. Luckily, there are some easy ways that have been proven to work! Read on for eight tips that will help you stay quick-witted until the end.
1. You enjoy learning new things
A study proved that senior citizens who learned how to use an iPad and various apps over the course of 12 weeks were able to better remember daily events and could understand how to perform simple tasks when compared to other groups who didn’t learn new skills. Researchers believe that the process of learning a new skill helps improve how well an individual remembers everyday events.
2. You enjoy playing games
Different games will give your brain a much-needed mental boost. Gamers who were given a physics-based puzzle game called “Cut the Rope” ended up with task-switching skills and improved concentration. They also were able to adapt to new situations quicker than gamers who played less-challenging games. Pick brain games to help keep your mind sharp and focused.
3. You aren’t always stressed out
Easy activities that are used for stress relief, such as reading, short walks, or a weekly massage, are thought to keep your mind healthy as you age. When you are always stressed out about something, your brain releases cortisol, the stress hormone. This eventually wears down the short-term memory region of your brain, according to a study done by the University of Iowa.
4. You enjoy a glass of red wine
We already know that drinking red wine can help your heart. Now, a study done in Germany has suggested that red wine can also help your brain. Research has suggested that increasing your intake of resveratrol, which is the antioxidant found in dark chocolate, blueberries, and red wine, will improve your ability to form new memories.
5.You cut out sugar when you can
According to a study done by the Charité University Medical Centre, excess sugar and simple carbohydrates can drain your brain. Men and women who had lower blood sugar levels were given tests to see how many words they could memorize after waiting 30 minutes. They did better than participants with higher blood sugar levels.
6. You sleep enough every day
There have been multiple studies concerning sleep and learning. However, researchers from a newer study found that out brains replay activities from our days while we sleep at night. Without the proper amount of shut-eye, our brains can have trouble committing the events of the day to our memory.
7. You use ibuprofen as a pain-killer
Newcastle University released research that suggests the use of ibuprofen could reduce the risk of dementia by reducing inflammation. Mice that were already prone to inflammation ended up aging twice as quickly as other mice. Researchers discovered that they also had more heart problems, weight loss, and even grey hair. After scientists administered ibuprofen, all premature aging ceased. This suggests that inflammation could drive aging in humans, and not the other way around.
8. You vary your exercise regimen
A study from The Journal of Aging Research has shown that lifting weights and walking can improve our spatial memory, the area of our brain that assists us in remembering our physical environment. However, men and women who walked more than they lifted weights had even higher success with their verbal memory.
