It needs constant stimulation to stay mentally sharp. That s why challenging activities are your brain s best friends. In fact, the more you can keep your brain doing things reading, writing, traveling, learning new information the more resistant your brain will be to the effects of aging, Dr. Chafetz says. Here s what he suggests to keep your mind challenged. Turn off the television.
TV really is mindless.
Researchers at Kansas State University in Manhattan found that people who watched just 15 minutes of television had diminished brain-wave activity, an indication that their minds were turning off. Flip open the nearest book. Reading is a time-tested brain booster that helps improve language skills while keeping your memory strong. Turn your head into a calculator. Your brain will stay sharper if you trust it to add, subtract, and multiply.