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Recent research published in the June 9, 2009 issue of Neurology reveals the secret to staying mentally sharp well into the senior years. The study used a different approach to find the results.
The researchers examined older people who haven’t lost their mental sharpness to see what common traits they shared.
Want to stay mentally sharp? Here is the secret:
- Exercise at least once a week
- Don’t smoke
- Get a good education
All participants of the study were in good health and between the age of 70 and 79 at the beginning of the study. They were from the Memphis, Tennessee and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. The study lasted for eight years.
It is interesting that participants only needed to exercise once a week to remain healthy. Increasing the amount of exercise to three or four times could certainly add to the ability to stay sharp.
Those with at least a high school education or higher were more likely to remain sharp as they age. Nonsmokers were more likely to maintain their mental capabilities than those who smoked.
Exercise level easy to change
Although it is much easier to change our exercise and smoking/nonsmoking habits, most people have left their education far behind by the time they have reached their senior years.
However, take a class or keeping up to date with current news can help seniors keep their minds active.
Most of us desire to live a long time, and we want to live in such a way as to enjoy our senior years.
Paying attention to these three areas will help us maintain a healthy lifestyle far beyond our expectations.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Mary // Jul 15, 2009 at 10:25 am
I found a great website called http://www.fitbrains.com and they have games that are geared to work your brain. They are a bit harder than the computer card games, but card games are great way for elders (who use the computer) to exercise their brains.
2 Edie // Jul 15, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Mary, I checked out the fitbrains site then emailed the url to my family members. Thanks for providing the info.
Not all elders are online, but as the number of seniors coming online increase, sites like this will certainly help keep their minds active as long as possible.