Aging doesn’t mean that you can’t have your best foot forward in the thinking department. Various lifestyle choices can elevate a senior’s minds to make them excel. Brain workouts enable a healthier brain to improve the memory and cognitive skills of a senior. Let’s get this show on the road to present the top 3 ways for seniors to stimulate their thinking cap.

Exercise For a Keen Mind 

Exercise is highly beneficial to the senior mind – the mind-body connection might begin with a simple walk that helps to enhance memory and cognitive function. During a walk the foot stimulates the brain by sending pressure waves through the arteries, increasing the flow of blood-resulting in a healthy mind.

Numerous physical activities can provide benefits, such as:

• Hiking on nearby nature trails
• Tennis 
• Walking your dog
• Yoga or tai chi
• Water aerobics

Activate the Brain with Reading

Reading puts your brain to work, and that’s a very good thing. Those who engage their brains through activities such as reading, chess, or puzzles could be 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those who spend their down time on less stimulating activities. The paper suggests that exercising the brain may help because inactivity increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, inactivity is actually an early indicator of the disease, or a little of each.

Not only does regular reading help make you smarter, but it can also actually increase your brain power. Just like going for a jog exercises your cardiovascular system, reading regularly improves memory function by giving your brain a good workout. With age comes a decline in memory and brain function, but regular reading may help slow the process, keeping minds sharper longer, according to research published in Neurology. Frequent brain exercise was able to lower mental decline by 32 percent.

Eat For Brain Power

What senior’s put inside their body affects how they think, so increase your brain power with nutrient-dense foods. 

These are the brain foods a neuroscientist wants you to add to your diet:

Fatty Fish

Cold water, fatty fish, especially Alaskan salmon, mackerel, blue fish, sardines, or anchovies are recommended. These are all very high in the omega-3’s that your brain needs on a daily basis. Consumption of fatty fish may protect your brain from age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. It is known to slower rates of cognitive decline.  Certain studies have shown that people who eat fish regularly have more grey matter in their brain centers that control emotions and memory.

Dark leafy greens

Dark leafy greens such as spinach, Swiss chard, dandelion greens, and kale are wonderful brain foods. These are all full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and disease-fighting nutrients needed for a healthy nervous system.

These veggies are high in vitamin E, of which everyone needs about 15 milligrams per day. In early studies conducted on mice, the vitamin has been found to improve mitochondrial function and overall neurological performance. Half a cup of boiled spinach contains about 1.9 milligrams of vitamin E, or 10 percent of what you need in a day.

The Victorian Assisted Living and Retirement Community

The Victorian is an assisted living and retirement community that makes living independently, while at the same time feeling safe and secure, a reality. We strive to provide the best quality of life for all residents including those suffering from loneliness and depression.
We offer a comprehensive activity program that includes both physical and social activities to encourage emotional well-being. Our staff is trained to assist those with depression. If you or a loved one are considering assisted living, contact The Victorian today to learn more about our services or tour our community.