5 Simple Habits To Help Maintain Your Cognitive Function Into Old Age
Aging can be an incredibly scary prospect, but it doesn’t have to be. There are simple things you can do early on in life that will help ensure that your cognitive function stays healthy into old age. From diet and exercise to reading and keeping up with the news; here are 5 simple habits to help maintain your cognitive function into old age.
Eating Healthy: Eating healthily is one of the most effective ways to keep your body and mind healthy as you age. Regularly eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can provide essential nutrients for proper brain functioning. Omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood have been particularly linked with improved brain health due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Incorporating these dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids into your meals will help protect your mental function into old age.
Exercise: Exercise is an essential component of keeping your body in top condition as you age. Not only does regular physical activity reduce inflammation throughout the body, but it also increases blood circulation which delivers more oxygen to the brain cells and helps support neuron production which keeps our minds sharp over time. Try incorporating at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity exercises like walking or biking into your routine for best results!
Keep Learning: Keeping your mind stimulated is important too! You don’t necessarily need to go back to school or take up a new hobby; simply learning something new each day through books or online courses will help ensure that our minds remain active even as we age. Whether this comes in the form of picking up a new language or brushing up on basic math skills; engaging in some form of learning every day should become part of your daily routine if you wish to maintain strong cognitive function over time.
Stay Social: Humans are social creatures by nature, so staying connected with others is key for promoting psychological well-being and preventing depression which could otherwise lead to anxiety issues later on in life that affect our cognition negatively when we’re older adults. Connecting with friends both near and far through social media platforms such as Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, etc., has become easier than ever before – taking advantage of technology now may just keep us healthier later!
Manage Stress: Stress plays an important role in how efficiently our brains operate; chronic stress affects our thinking processes and mental processing power negatively over time due to the hormones it releases during moments of distress which compromises our ability to concentrate clearly and make sound judgment calls around unfamiliar situations later on down the line when we need them most as seniors! Taking breaks during times of emotional strain (sleep/meditation/relaxation) are all great ways to manage stress efficiently while exercising mindfulness regularly helps us recognize emotional triggers so we know how best to deal with them better when they arise again too!
