4 Brain Exercises for Seniors to Try

To improve and protect your memory while combating mental decline due to aging, here are a few simple and fun ways to keep your brain sharp.

Do you enjoy the challenge of Sudoku, the Sunday crossword, and other types of brain teasers? Even if you don’t, it’s worth trying to test your memory and reasoning skills for the sake of your brain’s health.

One 2019 study sought to discover if number-related brain games “might preserve cognitive function in the aging population,” particularly in adults aged 50 to 93. Impressively, researchers found highly statistically significant results based on the frequency of performing number puzzles on 14 cognitive measures, including but not limited to attention, information processing, and working memory.

Further, adults who engaged with such brain training more than once daily demonstrated even greater cognitive strengths, showing the merits of challenging your brain on a regular basis.

In terms of exercising your brain, the concept of novelty involves switching things up, surprising your brain, and not defaulting to the same automatic defaults day in and day out.

Novelty benefits brain health because it promotes neuroplasticity (i.e., neuron-building brain stimulation) to keep your brain on its toes, so to speak. Just as we don’t want our bodies to become dormant and sedentary over time, we can think of the brain in the same kind of light.

Easy ways to introduce novelty into your daily life includes the likes of:

• wearing your watch on the opposite hand
• switching up your typical driving routes
• reading and working in different areas of your home

According to John Hopkins Medicine, something as non-arduous and pleasant as listening to music has pro-aging benefits for your brain.

Experts found that listening to music can improve mental alertness and memory, as well as reduce blood pressure and promote better sleep.

It turns out that any music—not just classical—will suffice to reap these benefits. However, to go the extra mile, you can incorporate the tip on novelty above by listening to new and diverse genres for added stimulation and to forge new brain connections.

To take this even further, if you play an instrument or always wanted to, now is a good time to resume or pick up that hobby.

If you want to calm your body and mind while also reaping cognitive improvements, consider adding meditation to your wellness routine.

Not only can consistent meditation reduce stress and promote positive feelings, but it can also enhance attention and memory—even for those who are new to the practice. Plus, you don’t even have to meditate for too long.

In fact, one 2019 study shows that 13-minute daily meditation sessions over eight weeks boosted attention, working memory, and recognition memory in study participants.

While your brain requires stimulation, it also needs rest and recovery time, making mindfulness and meditation a worthy addition to your brain training routine as the years pass by.

Related articles:

• How do I protect my mental health
• The role of exercise in preventing Alzheimer's