Flex Those Mental Muscles

Where did I put those keys? What was her name? Where did I park the car?

All of us experience these “senior moments” from time to time. And while we often laugh about our absentmindedness, privately we may worry that we are starting to lose our memory and cognitive skills.

Take heart --there are simple things you can do every day that can have long-term benefits for the health of your brain.

“The expression 'use it or lose it' applies to more than just the muscles in our bodies - it also applies to the neural pathways and connections in our brains,” says Babak Tousi, M.D., a board-certified geriatrician and movement disorders specialist at Lakewood Hospital's SeniorCare Assessment Center. “There are a variety of brain exercises and activities that can actually improve our brain function.”

First of all, try convincing yourself that you do have a good memory that will improve. Erase the negative thoughts, work to improve your memory, and celebrate your accomplishments.

Now that you have a positive attitude, regularly “exercise” your brain by developing new mental skills.

Try learning a new language, play a new musical instrument, visit a museum to learn something new, make your hobby more difficult, and challenge your brain with puzzles and games.

“This will keep your brain active and improve its physiological functioning,” says Dr. Tousi. “Try challenging your brain every day with crosswords, Sodoku and other puzzle exercises.”

Another good brain exercise is switching from your dominant hand – whether left or right – when doing daily activities such as eating, combing your hair or brushing your teeth. While it may be difficult at first, practicing will drive your brain to make positive changes. These challenges help build new associations between different neural connections of the brain.

Regular aerobic exercise will improve your brain function, too, just as it improves circulation and efficiency throughout your body. Exercise can even help your brain create new cells. Exercise also makes you more alert and relaxed, helping you to take better mental “pictures.”

Likewise, getting a good night’s sleep is critical to brain function. “People who don’t get enough sleep have more trouble learning new information than those who are well rested,” says Dr. Tousi. “Sleeping well after learning something new also helps your brain store that information and recall it at a later date.”

A healthy diet, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and keeping your mind free of stress all have a positive impact on your memory and brainpower, too. "It’s important to take care of our brain and flex our mental muscles,” says Dr. Tousi. “We all need to find ways to break a mental sweat to keep our brains in shape.”

For more information about Lakewood Hospital’s SeniorCare Assessment Center, visit lakewoodhosptial.org/seniors, or call 216.521.2228.