8 Ways to keep your brain sharp as you age

Dr.Madhukar Bhardwaj, 4 mins read

With every birthday, our body ages, and so does our brain. Near 45, the brain ages more aggressively, and we often begin to forget things easily. Forgetting keys, grocery lists, or other things becomes more frequent. Though everyone faces such problems after a certain age, memory loss should never be taken lightly. 

Thus, planning earlier is often an ideal option. Various tips are available these days that may help you sharpen your brain. This blog will discuss some of these tips that have proven beneficial to many people.

Keep moving

It’s usual to have less inclination towards physical activities at this age due to fatigue and other reasons. We love to spend most of our time sitting or resting. But that’s not a good decision. It’s best to keep moving as much as you can. Being physically active raises blood flow to the brain and other parts. This might help you in many ways. 

That doesn’t mean you have to exercise for an hour or long and lift heavy weights in the gym. Instead, you can spend 150 minutes per week on moderate aerobic activities, such as brisk walking. Or you can do 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activities per week. With this, try a 10-minute walk throughout the day. 

But make sure these activities are not overwhelming for you. Choose exercises and times that go best with your needs. For that purpose, you can consult a physiotherapist or doctor. 

Make learning your habit

This may sound absurd. But learning is one such thing that allows you to challenge your brain and keep it sharp. Whether books or newspapers keep you engaged, learning goes a long way. If these things don’t interest you, you can go with crosswords, puzzles or mind games and tricky words to exercise your brain. Try journaling or jotting down your favourite ‘shayaris’ or songs. 

As always, learning never ends; you can learn musical instruments, cooking, gardening or anything that interests you. You can also volunteer at a local school or NGO or try a new hobby.

Keep all your senses engaged

Experts believe that the more senses you use in learning or something that exercises your brain, the more of your brain is involved in memorising. So, engage yourself in activities that involve most of your senses.

Spend quality time

Social interaction is a crucial aspect for a healthy and happy mental health. This allows you to engage with people who understand you and helps to unload your daily stress. So, look for opportunities to get together with your loved ones or friends. You can plan a family vacation or group travel to hills or religious places.

Stay organised   

If you forget things more often, it’s good to have a to-do list. You can purchase a notebook or create a note on your smartphone. List all the activities you have to do each day or mark important tasks on Google Calendar. Check the tasks you have finished or that need to be done. 

You can also save information about your daily belongings, like keys or grocery lists, on your phone. Also, repeat the list out loud for better memorisation. 

Limit your activities. Don’t do too many activities simultaneously. Also, you can memorise the information you often forget by linking it to a song or familiar thing. 

Get adequate sleep 

Sleep and mental health are closely associated. Not getting enough sleep can affect your memorising power. Thus, making sleep a priority is a must. Adults should sleep for at least 7 to 9 hours daily. If you face problems in getting a healthy sleep, consult a sleep medicine specialist.

Eat healthy 

A healthy diet goes a long way in supporting your overall health, including your brain health. Make sure your diet includes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Choose low-fat protein sources like beans and fish. Also, cut down on smoking and alcohol consumption. Or better, just avoid these things. 

Manage chronic conditions

Problems like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and hearing loss become part of life after 50. These conditions have a huge impact on the body. So, it’s important to address these conditions promptly and not ignore the prescription. The better you take care of these conditions, the better your memory is likely to be. 

Takeaway!

Keeping the brain sharp is a common wish. However, some factors, like an underlying condition or ageing, make you prone to memory lapse. Don’t worry! The above tips can help you out. If you forget easily, it could be an indication of an underlying problem. In such a case, consulting a neurologist is a must.