When it comes to maintaining cognitive function as you age there is reason for optimism, according to Stanford University and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development. Their Expert Consensus on Brain Health statement cites a study that shows older people these days have less mental impairment than their counterparts from years past. Active learning throughout life may be part of the reason. Neurobiologist Michael Merzenich the University of California, San Francisco, states the brain requires active learning and change to maintain brain health, which in turn requires you to develop new skills, acquire new abilities or take on new hobbies.
Puzzles
Puzzles of any sort engage your brain and activate memory and association functions. Brain teasers, logic puzzles and math puzzles are not bounded by time or culture, and people have been using them to stay sharp for centuries, according to Dr. Marcel Danesi, author of "The Puzzle Instinct." Challenge yourself with puzzles: If you're better with words than numbers, start solving Sudoku puzzles; if you're better with numbers than words, pick up a crossword puzzle. Bring the puzzles along with you to your doctor appointments or anytime you will have a few minutes to spare. In the evening, put together a jigsaw puzzle as you watch TV. You might also try three-dimensional puzzles that require you to add a spatial dimension to your brain repertoire.
Video and Computer Games
Video games are not just for kids anymore, especially with the advent of games like Brain Age or Big Brain Academy for game console systems and websites like Lumosity, Scientific Psychic or Games for the Brain. With all of these, you can exercise your mind by playing games targeting intelligence, memory, focus, speed and response time. Choose logic, visual or spatial exercises. Often, the games are timed and you can see improvement as you progress further into the game in the same amount of time.
Physical Activity
Go for a walk. Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco found that in a group of 6,000 elderly women, those who were more active experienced less cognitive decline during the eight-year period of the study. For every mile walked per week, there was a 13 percent less chance of cognitive decline, according to neurologist Kristine Yaffe, M.D., and the protective effect of more activity amounted to as much as 40 percent. If you can't get out for a walk, even video games provide an opportunity for activity. Get active and exercise your mind at the same time with virtual bowling, baseball, golf, tennis and boxing.
Active Learning
Learn something completely new to you, whether a language, musical instrument, how to cook or how to change the oil in your car. According to the DANA Alliance for Brain Initiatives, engaging in active lifelong learning is essential to your brain health as you age. Using your brain in novel ways activates parts of it that haven't been activated before. Even something as simple as getting dressed with your eyes closed, finding your keys in your purse without looking or eating with your opposite hand are good exercises to keep your mind healthy.
