The brain isn’t a muscle, but if you don’t use it, your cognitive abilities decline. From the age of 20, we slowly start losing brain cells. This is a natural process, but there are many things that speed up the process. Head trauma, drinking too much alcohol, and exposure to environmental toxins all cause brain cell death. The good news is that the brain has a remarkable capacity for repair and regeneration.
Using our brains helps to protect us from the effects of cognitive decline. Mental activity has been proven to reduce the risk of dementia and other diseases associated with ageing. Doing a crossword every day won’t prevent you from developing Alzheimer’s disease, but it might delay the symptoms.
Here are a few ways to challenge your little gray cells. Do as many as you can!
Puzzle Games
Crosswords everyday, Sudoku, number games and the like are all great for challenging the brain. Not everyone is good at cryptic crosswords and sudoku puzzles, but the more you do them, the easier it gets. You can do them online or pick up a puzzle book. Try and do one daily. It’s a fun 10-minute break with a cup of coffee.
If you want to test your puzzle skills with friends, book a trip to a Columbus escape room. Choose from a variety of different scenarios, including haunted houses and mystery mansions. The aim of the game is to solve the puzzles and escape from the room in 60-minutes or less. Can you handle it?
Learn A Language
Learning new skills is good for the brain. It helps us form new neural pathways, which make the brain more resilient. Learning a language is an excellent pastime for many reasons and not just brain health. You don’t need to become bi-lingual. Learning some simple phrases and enough vocabulary to make yourself understood in a foreign country is good enough. Language helps to broaden the mind and expand our view of the world.
If learning a language isn’t your thing, why not try a new skill? Have a go at painting or drawing. Try learning a musical instrument. Even experimenting with some new recipes is good for the brain.
Get Active
The older we get, the more sedentary our lifestyle becomes. We often use old age as an excuse. In other words, rather than walk to the store, we say our legs are tired, or we ache too much. This is not good for the body or for the brain. Physical exercise stimulates the brain and encourages social engagement. Go for a daily walk or join a dance class. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel in a couple of weeks!
Need some encouragement to be more active? Volunteer to walk a neighbour’s dog or welcome a rescue mutt into your life. Dogs don’t just encourage us to be more active – they also stimulate our brain.
Don’t let old age turn your brain into mush. A few simple lifestyle modifications will make a world of difference.
