Mental Activity Helps You Stay Sharp

Mental decline as you age appears to be largely due to altered connections among brain cells. But research has found that keeping the brain active seems to increase its vitality and may build its reserves of brain cells and connections. You could even generate new brain cells.

Low levels of education have been found to be related to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s later in life. This may be due to a lower level of life-long mental stimulation. Put another way, higher levels of education appear to be somewhat protective against Alzheimer’s, possibly because brain cells and their connections are stronger. Well-educated individuals can still get Alzheimer’s, but symptoms may appear later because of this protective effect.

You don’t have to turn your life upside down, or make extreme changes to achieve many of these benefits. Start with something small, like a daily walk. After a while, add another small change

Keep your brain active every day:

• Stay curious and involved — commit to lifelong learning

• Read, write, work crossword or other puzzles

• Attend lectures and plays

• Enroll in courses at your local adult education center, community college or other community group

• Play games

• Garden

• Try memory exercises

Additional Web resources

• AARP Online Games and Puzzles
  http://www.aarp.org/games/

• Third Age Online Games
  http://www.thirdage.com/living/games/sbt1/

• Directory of U.S. Public Libraries
  http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Libweb/Public_main.html

• The New York Times Crossword Puzzle
  http://www.nytimes.com/pages/crosswords/
  

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