The Mayo Foundation says that as you grow older your brain will still be able to adapt to stimuli. They admit that some of your cognitive functions will decline, but they say that others increase to compensate for these declines. There are also some activities that can help you with this.
How to Prevent Cognitive Decline Through Mental Activities
One of the best things you can do for your mind and brain are to keep them motivated and active by learning. Some activities that will help you with this include:
- Read
- Solve problems
- Learn a new language
- Play an instrument
- Play a game that’s based on memory or strategy
- Do a brain teaser
- Do some cardiovascular activities each day to enhance the protein between your nerve cells that’s responsible for making you smarter and helping you be fitter too (Proven to reduce the likelihood of dementia over time)
- Read books, newspapers, and magazines
- Play games like cards
- Do crosswords and puzzles
Essentially, you want to find activities that will balance the two sides of your brain – your language and logic along with your creative and artistic sides. You also want to make sure you surround yourself with great friends so you remain socially active. As a social being, it’s important for your memory and cognition that you are connected with other people. This will also help you to be in a better mood. Some of the best ways to make sure you’re connected include:
- Getting a job – this will also help you feel as though you’re still independent
- Join a book club
- Find a group of people to go walking with
- Get a gym membership or join an exercise group
- Spend time with family and friends
- Find clubs that are of interest to you – there are many available so you’re bound to find something
- Get involved with volunteer activities in your community
How to keep Cognitive Decline at Bay by Watching What You put into your Body
Eating has a powerful influence on your brain. Here are some strategies to help you with this:
- Fill your plate with foods that have a lot of antioxidants and not a lot of fat or sugar (e.g. berries, apples, salmon, yogurt, walnuts) instead of packaged, processed, or refined foods that are high in sugar and contain a lot of white flour as these are shown to cause brain inflammation
- Eat several small meals throughout the day
- Make sure you’re eating various colors of vegetables and fruits so you have a lot of protective antioxidants and vitamins in your diet
- Include Vitamin D and B12, along with folic acid and fish oil to not only preserve your memory, but to also help improve it as well
Now that you know what you should eat, you should also know what you should avoid: Toxins that are found in tobacco and alcohol. Smoking increases the odds by 79% that you’ll face some sort of cognitive decline if you’re over 65-years-old. Combined with drinking and the researchers at Miami’s Mt. Sinai Medical Center say that you may face cognitive decline 6 – 7 years earlier. Other toxins to avoid include mold, lead, and pesticides.
There are also some vitamins that you should start taking as you grow older, including:
- Ginkgo biloba: This increases the blood flow to your brain thus slowing down cognitive decline
- Phosphatidylserine (PS): A nutrient for brain cells that will positively effect your memory and concentration
If you’re facing a decline in your hearing along with cognitive decline, you should know that you don’t have to suffer here either. Countryside Hearing Aid Services has you covered. Make an appointment to talk to them today!
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