6 Steps To A Fit Brain

Try these tips for flexing your mental muscle.

Ever entered a room only to forget why you went there? Or forgotten someone’s name straight after meeting them? If you’re worried your brain isn’t what it once was, fear not – neuroscientist Professor André Aleman says there are still plenty of reasons for hope.

“Not all changes to our brains are negative,” he explains. “In fact, in our fifties and sixties we’re more emotionally stable and better able to cope with stress and complex situations.”

And while memory problems tend to set in over time, they’re not inevitable. In fact, the latest research shows that a few simple lifestyle shifts can be all it takes to counteract age-related changes in the brain. Here are ways to ensure a sharper and brighter mind for years to come.

DO A LITTLE DANCE

We all know that exercise improves fitness, but did you know it can be a workout for your mind too? “A brisk halfhour walk once a day is enough to release growth hormones that can improve memory and brain function,” says André.