Cross-train your brain

Millions of people pursue exercise regimens to help them stay physically fit as they age. But what can you do to help your mind stay resilient and youthful as you grow older? The good news is, quite a lot. Here's advice from Duke University Medical Center on how to do it. Just as you can exercise your body to fight off the effects of physical aging, you can keep your brain stronger longer with special mental exercises. These exercises, which I call "Neurobics," are based on the latest findings from leading neurobiology labs at Duke and around the world.

Brain cells learn by literally making new connections with one another. For a long time, it was assumed that these connections could only be established during youth. But new scientific evidence shows the opposite: Even quite late in life, the brain has quite a lot of residual capacity to reorganize and "rewire" itself. Because a huge area of our brain is devoted to processing sensory inputs, Neurobics uses the full range of senses (often marginalized by modern conveniences and daily routines) to help forge new connections among the different sensory structures of the brain. The exercises are easy, fun, and simple. Yet, if done on a regular basis, they will help keep your mind fit to meet any challenge--whether it's remembering a name, mastering a new computer program, or staying creative in your work.

To be a Neurobic exercise, an activity must involve one or more senses in a novel way, engage your attention, and add an unexpected element to a routine activity. Try some of read more