Exercise for the brain

Keeping dementia at bay

This article was published on 02.16.12

Even if you happen to be genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s, there are preventive measures you can take to delay or totally stave off demenitia. Here are a few ways that the folks at AARP The Magazine suggest for giving your brain a boost.

• Move: Exercising regularly can reduce risk of dementia 30 to 40%.

• Lift: Weight training has been shown to improve cognitive function.

• Change the game: Learn something new—a game, a skill, etc.—and increase brain cells.

• Relax: Stress overwhelms the brain and impairs memory. Learn relaxation techniques like meditation.

• Mediterranean diet: In a Columbia University study, those who ate diets filled with fish, vegetables, fruit, nuts and beans reduced Alzheimer’s risk 34 to 48%.

• Spice it up: Spices like ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, turmeric, among others, help build brain power.

• Be social: Regular interaction with people keeps you emotially and intellectually stimulated.

• Vitamins: Deficiencies in vitamins like B12 can affect the vitality of the brain.