Maintaining Cognitive Health As We Grow Older
Let's look at some ways to maintain brain health. This refers to how well a person's brain functions across several areas.
Motor Function: Controlling movement and balance
Sensory Function: Seeing, hearing, tasting and smelling
Tactile Function: Feeling and responding to sensations of touch, including pressure, pain and temperature
Cognitive Function: Thinking, learning and remembering
Emotional Function: Interpreting and responding to emotions
Brain health can be affected by age-related changes in the brain; injuries such as stroke or traumatic brain injury; mood disorders such as depression, substance use disorder or addiction; and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Forgetting small things is normal for people of all ages. As we age, this forgetfulness can become more common. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly four out of 10 people notice mild memory loss by age 65. In addition to mild memory loss, seniors are at an increased risk for developing dementia.
Along with lifestyle changes, like eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, brain training can help maintain brain health, even with age. While you can’t stop your brain from aging, there are steps you can take to keep it sharp and support your cognitive function. This kind of “mental exercise” is particularly important for seniors.
Certain brain exercises can help boost memory, concentration, and focus, making daily tasks quicker and easier and keeping your brain sharp as you age. Let’s look at some evidence-based exercises that offer the best brain-boosting benefits:
Have Fun With A Jigsaw Puzzle
Whether you’re putting together a 1,000-piece puzzle or joining just 25 pieces, working on a jigsaw puzzle is an excellent way to strengthen your brain.
Try Your Hand At Cards
Research shows that playing card games helps improve certain thinking skills, like verbal fluency and self-control, and the ability to switch between tasks.
Play Bingo
People of any age can play bingo, but it is particularly popular with older adults. It is an easy game that requires you to remember what your board looks like, recognize and recall the called numbers and letters, and respond appropriately.
Build Your Vocabulary
A rich vocabulary has a way of making you sound smart. But did you know you can also turn a quick vocab lesson into a stimulating brain game? Research shows that many regions of the brain are involved in vocabulary tasks, particularly in areas that are important for visual and auditory processing.
Remember The Good Old Days
Reminiscing is a therapeutic activity often practiced by older adults with dementia. It involves using the senses (smell, touch, sight, sound or taste) to trigger old memories and lead into discussions.
Polish Up Your Old Dance Moves
The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) notes that learning new dance moves can increase your brain’s processing speed and memory. It involves physical skills (spatial awareness and coordination) and cognitive skills (remembering choreography).
Brain games and exercises are important for seniors as they help slow age-related cognitive decline, improve memory and attention, and enhance executive functions like problem-solving and focus. These activities provide mental stimulation, boost emotional well-being by reducing stress and loneliness, and can even improve physical health by promoting a more active lifestyle and fostering social connections through shared experiences.
Sources: