The brain is like a muscle - Use it or lose it. Recent research shows that fogged memory and slowed wit are not the inevitable consequences of getting old. There are steps that people can take to protect their brains as aging progresses.
Mental exercise appears to be crucial.
Benefits start when parents read to younger children and depend heavily on education, but scientists say that it's never too late to start exercising your mind. Bad memory is not only a mental impediment. It's also linked to heart disease, diabetes and a high-fat diet, all risks people can counter by living healthier lives. In fact, the new research suggests these brain-protective steps, mental and physical, may be strong enough even to help influence who gets Alzheimer's disease. It's also good advice for the average baby boomer or even the mom priming her child for a lifelong healthy brain.