Brain Power

18 surprising ways to help the brain stay sharper and ward off dementia.

22:39 18 May 2016

Experts have listed 18 surprising ways to boost your brain power and ward off dementia.

 

1.     Eat ‘brain food’ that can increase mental stamina, aid memory, and even benefit problem-solving ability. These include rich leafy greens, deeply pigmented red and blue berries, dark chocolates, and eggs, which boosts focus and helps reduce stress hormone cortisol.

 

2.     Exercise regularly and walk everyday. Scientists found that people who are over 65 and exercise are less likely to develop brain-related conditions than those who did not exercise. 

 

3.     Take up a new hobby that challenges the brain to keep it stimulated.

 

4.     Brush your teeth daily. Researchers at the University of California, who followed 5,500 elderly people over 18 years, found that those who brushed their teeth daily are 65per cent more unlikely to develop dementia than those who did not brush daily.

 

5.     Treat common medical problems using natural remedies first as common over-the-counter-medicines have been linked to memory loss and thinking problems.

 

6.     Have some time off from your phone. Switch off the phone right after work to give the brain some time to rest. Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin said that daily bombardment of information from texts, emails and social media takes up neural resources and causes “decision fatigue.”

 

7.     Load up on B-complex vitamins, particularly B12, that are vital to mental clarity.

 

8.     High blood pressure is a strong risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s. Monitor yours as any problem related to blood pressure can be treated completely if identified early.

 

9.     Practice meditation. A combination of intense concentration and relaxation can trigger the growth of new brain cells. 

 

10.   Lessen meat intake. Researchers found that people who ate a diet high in red and processed meat and low wholegrain had higher levels of inflammatory protein and did worse in cognitive tests.

 

11.   Let your mind wander. Researchers from the University of British Columbia said that daydreaming could stimulate brain function.  

 

12.   Eat more salmon. Eating one serving of oily fish, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, a day can lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

 

13.   Start gaming with kids. Dr Daphne Bavelier, a neuroscientist professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester in the United States, said that playing video games can improve skills in vision, attention and certain aspects of cognition.

 

14.   Sleep soundly. A study suggests that the brain’s unique method of waste removal is highly active during sleep.

 

15.   Brew up. Austrian researchers found that consuming 100mg of caffeine increases brain activity in the frontal lobe, which is responsible for short-term memory.

 

16.   Add rosemary to your dishes. Researchers found that rosemary contains chemical that can boost brainpower and improve mood.

 

17.   Surf the net. Scientists found that going online helps the elderly in preserving brainpower.

 

18.   Check your memory. Take a free online Cognitive Function test at foodforthebrain.org/alzheimers-prevention/take-the-test.aspx. “By encouraging people to take ­prevention steps and tracking memory function, we hope to map the extent diet and lifestyle improvements stop or delay cognitive decline in hundreds of thousands of people,” advises Patrick Holford.