Want to remain brainy while you age? Then keep reading – Your brain is always ready to learn and you must make a conscious effort to keep it in practice.
According to a new study published in the journal of Cell, stem cell, (the formation of neurons) never stops, irrespective of age.
A neuron is a nerve cell that helps in transmitting information throughout the body. Even at the age of 90, your brain can create new neurons and learn new tricks.
The aging effect is not limited to our physical body. Every part of our body is affected including the brain. As we age, our brain starts to slow down and reduces its functioning.
Easy forgetting becomes our daily challenge. We find ourselves struggling to remember things that are ordinarily easy to remember.
Although easy forgetting or memory loss maybe as a result of aging, there are amazing steps you can take to keep your brain functioning younger than its age. These steps include:
1. Taking Brain booster Supplement
Brain booster supplements are naturally made dietary supplements that have a beneficial effect on brain function in healthy people.
Taking these memory enhancement supplements (such as Vital Brain Booster, NeuroIGNITE, nutricost, Doctor’s best extra strength Gingko etc.) can help you boost memory, motivation, creativity, alertness, focus, mood, and general cognitive function. It may also reduce fatigue & mental fogginess.
A single capsule these dietary supplements deliver enough natural brain-boosting nutrients to keep you energized throughout the day and night, functioning at your optimal cognitive ability!
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Most people who take brain booster supplements complement it with the following physical activities for optimal results.
2. Physical Walking Exercise
While walking is known to have amazing physical health benefits, a 30-minute walk daily is what most brainy adults do to keep their mental health active.
There is truth in the saying “your whole body(especially mind) wakes up when you walk” ( Stephanie Blozy)
According to Scott Turner, MD, Ph.D., director of the Memory Disorders Program at Georgetown University Medical Center ” Physical exercise has the best evidence for preserving memory and mental function with aging”.
So, if you want your brain to work smarter while you age, join the community of the intellectuals, walk for about 20 to 30 minutes everyday.
3. Dance To Stay Fit Mentally
Dancing among several physical activities has been evidenced to have high beneficial effects on the brain. This is because it combines several brain-health prescriptions into one.
As you know, dancing with a group or a partner, gets you excited and keeps you socially smarts. This is why most mentally sound folks usually cool off stress with dancing.
Take a look around, you will notice most successful entrepreneurs make dancing floor their next go to when they are not working.
This is because the joy of learning new dance steps while dancing with a group or friend makes them more active and sharpens their thought process. In all, it helps boost their intellectual fitness.
Moreover, recall that dance, by nature, is fun, which helps to ease human stress. So, it wouldn’t be a wrong idea if you dance for at least 10mins a day just to boost your memory and avoid brain degeneration while aging.
4. Go For Mediterranean-Style Diet
Going for a Mediterranean diet is one sure way to keep your brain sharpened. This is one common eating style among intellectuals.
Research shows a healthful eating pattern such as the Mediterranean diet offers a protective effect on brain health and is correlated with a decreased rate of cognitive decline and a lower risk of cognitive impairment.
Additionally, Argye Hillis, MD, professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins Medicine opined that “There’s good evidence for the Mediterranean-style diet,”.
She explained further, that for one to keep to a Mediterranean diet doesn’t mean to eat pasta and pizza, but lots of fruits and vegetables, fish rather than red meat, and olive oil.”
Buttressing on this fact, one study revealed that people who closely followed this diet were nearly 20% less likely to have thinking and memory problems. (Web MD)
5. Active Brain Engagement
Physical exercise alone is not enough to boost your brain. Mental exercise is required and paramount for proper balancing of your brain function.
It is no news that most intellectuals or successful entrepreneurs regularly engage their brains. Reading, playing card and cognitive games are ways to engage your brain on a daily basis.
You can even go out to watch football, basketball or any other pitch game and while on it, have a debate with other viewers on the game. That way you learn new things become more informed and mentally active.
6. Socialize Often
Looking for what to do to make your brain function younger, then build a strong social network. Strong social ties have been associated with a lower risk of memory loss, as well as lower blood pressure and longer life expectancy.
One of the ways you can stay socially connected is by playing card games with friends. If you are a lover of books, join book clubs to stay socially active. Doing this is another plus to your brain.
According to Turner, “the more social connections someone has, the better they are at preserving mental function and memory”.
Social interaction helps memory as it helps your mood. Staying socially isolated is one major cause of depression today. Depression itself can trigger memory loss.
7. Use Memory Tricks
Sometimes intelligent people do encounter challenges with their memory. Forgetting the name of a person they just got introduced to and maybe words they recently came across are part of their daily memory challenge.
However, they solve such a challenge with few tricks. one of which is saying aloud a new word they learned.
You can do this with a mix of using new words learned almost immediately in conversation and discussions.
Also, you can mentally connect each new name with an image. For example, if you meet a girl named Rose, picture the rose flower and mentally connect both.
Another recalling strategy you can use is, post sticky notes around your home and office. Set reminders on your phone and PC so to know when to carry out a task.
8. Get Healthy Sleep
“Healthy sleep puts you in the right state of mind to take in information as we go about the day. Not only that, we need a good night’s sleep to process and retain that information over the long term.
Sleep actually triggers changes in the brain that solidify memories—strengthening connections between brain cells and transferring information from one brain region to another,” says ” National Sleep Foundation”
The best time to get into bed for a quality night sleep is between 9 to 10 pm and wake up by 6 am. This sleep period will allow your brain to rest and function better after. Take yourself for instance, haven’t you notice you think best when you’re well-rested?
Perhaps yes! This because a clear, alert brain allows you to focus, learn and remember information, and be creative.
These tips will help you get better sleep:
- Eat small meals before bed.
- Make your bedtime same for each night and your wake-up time the same for each morning.
- Avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol close to bedtime.
- Don,t smoke before bedtime.
9. Avoid Smoking
Smoking speeds up memory loss as you age. A 2018 study reported, “smoking was associated with increased risk of dementia.”
The study further reported that smokers who quit for a prolonged period of time may benefit from a reduced risk of dementia or memory loss.
Therefore, encouraged smokers to quit in order to reduce the risk of developing dementia, especially in the elderly population who are already at risk.
10. Avoid Stress
Stress especially when you experience it on a regular basis takes a significant toll on our minds and bodies. It can make you feel more irritable and constantly tired, and affect your ability to focus says, ” Havard Medical School”.
High levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, make it harder to pull information from your brain’s memory as a result makes it difficult for you to remember easily.
What most people do to keep their brain at bay is to socialize, play games, relax, meditate, exercise or get massaged regularly.
11. Go For Regular Checkup
Sometimes, medical conditions such as depression, diabetes, thyroid disease, and Vitamin deficiency can cause memory loss. Also, certain medicines, such as sleep and anxiety drugs, can also affect your ability to remember. Therefore it is important you see your doctor to get checked and treated for these problems and to go over all your medicines.
12. Practice The Laughter Therapy
The act of laughter or simply enjoying some humor increases endorphins, sending dopamine to the brain to provide a sense of pleasure and reward, Says “Berk”
That, in turn, makes the immune system work better and changes brain wave activity towards what’s called a “gamma frequency,” amping up memory and recall.
Most people who are intelligent and successful do this all the time. They put up a cheerful expression and laugh out whatever that is bothering them at the slightest opportunity they get.
According to one study, Laughter therapy, as a non-pharmacological, alternative treatment, has a positive effect on mental health and the immune system.
So, to make your brain function effectively even as you age, make it a lifestyle to laugh everyday. Don,t take things too serious and live your best life.
Read more about why you need to laugh everyday
13. Don’t Abuse Alcohol
Excessive drinking of alcohol is a major risk factor for dementia. If you choose to drink, limit yourself to two drinks a day. Scientists have known for years that binge drinking, or indulging in as many as 4-5 drinks in two hours, is bad for the brain. Therefore drink in moderation. ( Click to learn more about Alcohol and its effect)
Also read about 7 Foods that secretly damage your brain
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