You don't have to be a linguist to benefit from learning a new language. Adopting a foreign tongue boosts the verbal, language and memory parts of the brain. And, with perseverance, you can pick up a language at any age.
Mental Fitness & Nervous System
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AARP answeredResearch shows that taking courses even just auditing them can stave off dementia at an early age. If you don't want to go in for formal learning, then check out book readings, seminars and other educational events. -
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredSee All 3 Answers
It takes a little bit of work to keep your memory active as you age. Find out how to keep it sharp as Dr. Oz offers tips on preserving memory in this video.
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AARP answeredPick up a good book to cut down on brain-withering boredom. Frequent reading is associated with reduced risk of dementia. And meeting new people forces new neural connections. Besides, you might enjoy the book and learn something new.
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AARP answeredShut-eye isn't a luxury. It's when your brain consolidates memories. Poor sleep, caused by medical conditions, worry, depression or insomnia, can interfere with your rest. So treat yourself to relaxing scents like vanilla before bed. They raise the chemical dopamine and reduce cortisol, a stress hormone.
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AARP answeredReading the news helps you keep up with the latest, which not only activates the memory part of the brain but also gives you something to talk about with friends and family. That kind of socializing can activate multiple parts of your brain and encourage cell growth.
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AARP answeredWhen you look around, really look. Stare straight ahead and now,without moving your eyes , see if you can make out what's at the periphery. Do this regularly and you'll stimulate the neural and spatial centers of the brain, which can atrophy as you age.
When you look forward, also look around. When you walk down the street, don't just keep your eyes forward. Scan to the left and to the right. These actions can activate rarely used parts of the brain. That in turn can spur brain cell growth and new neural connections. -
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AARP answeredNew video games, such as the Wii and Nintendo DS, offer brain teasers that make you learn the computer's interface as you master the brain games. That's a double boost to the formation of new neural connections and to response time and memory.
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AARP answeredListen for details when a friend tells a story. Heed changes in the person's tone and register small facts you might otherwise gloss over. Conjure a mental image of the story. By doing this, you activate multiple areas in the brain and encourage memory formation.
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AARP answeredGet support for stressors. You may love your ailing family member, but the chronic stress of facing the situation alone can shrink your brain's memory center. Interacting with others activates many parts of the brain — and learning new ways of coping forms new neural connections.