NEW LEARNING

If you want to keep your brain sharp, you must engage in lifelong learning. Whenever the brain does something over and over, it learns how to do it using less and less energy. New learning, such as memorizing zip codes or learning a new game, helps establish new connections, thus maintaining and improving the function of lesser used areas of the brain. Try to devote at least 15 minutes a day to a new hobby, activity or subject matter.

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LIMIT TELEVISION

• Limit television for kids and adults. Studies show that adults who watched two or more hours of TV a day had a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Watching TV is usually a “no brain” activity. To be fair, these studies did not specify if watching programs that teach you something beneficial. Instead of watching TV, do anything that stimulates the mind such as reading, socializing, or cooking.

  CHANGE IT UP

• Alter daily routines to stimulate new parts of your brain. Do the opposite of what feels natural to activate the other side of your brain and gain access to both hemispheres. When you write, dress, brush your teeth, set the table, shoot basketballs, play table tennis, or use your computer mouse, use your nondominant hand. These changes make your brain feel uncomfortable—in essence, breaking the patterned routine in your life and challenging your brain to make new connections.

  SEE THE WORLD

• Travel to new and interesting places. Exposing the brain to unique experiences, scents, sights, and people strengthens the brain. Using maps stimulates the brain in different ways and also exercises the parietal lobes, which are responsible for visual-spatial guidance.

• TAKE A MEMORY COURSE

  Challenge your brain to learn novel and interesting things. Consider taking classes at your local community college or online. There’s no shortage of classes on the Internet. There are classes available on any subject that may be of interest to you, and you can take them at your own pace.

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