Regular mental and physical activities help maintain and even improve the health of the brain. According to Science Daily, being active physically may improve cognition during the early and middle years, and may guard against age-related cognitive decline during the senior years. In addition to physical activities, stimulating mental activities can keep your brain in good shape throughout your lifetime.
Neurobics
Neurobics are brain-stimulating exercises developed by Dr. Lawrence C. Katz, professor of neurobiology at Duke University Medical School in Durham, North Caroline. The basis behind neurobics is to do routine activities in unexpected or unusual ways that engage the senses and puts the mind on alert. Some examples of neurobic activities are getting dressed with your eyes closed, learning the Braille numbers on an ATM's number pad, turning the icons on your computer desktop upside down and taking a new route to work.
Puzzles and Games
Puzzles and games are activities that stimulate and exercise the brain. Crossword puzzles, brain teasers, Ribik's cubes, Sudokus, Word Searches and riddles, and games like Scrabble stimulate the brain. According to The Franklin Institute, "Challenging the brain early in life is crucial to building up more 'cognitive reserve' to counter brain-damaging disease." The Institute adds that even regularly playing a simple game like Bingo has been found to minimize memory loss in the elderly.
Physical Exercise
Physical activity increases heart rate and respiration, resulting in more blood and oxygen flowing to the brain. Moderate exercise like brisk walking has been shown to significantly improve memory skills in senior citizens. According to The Franklin Institute, senior citizens can expect to see a 13 percent reduction in their risk for cognitive decline for every extra mile they walk each week.
