4 Tips To Help Your Brain Stay Sharp

Keeping our bodies in good condition should be straightforward, a healthy diet and  plenty of exercise. The same basic principles should help to keep your brain healthy too, however scientific research is also revealing secrets about other ways to keep you mentally sharp for longer. So just how do you keep your grey matter in great shape?

1. Get your brain active

It’s essential to get your brain working. But doing bit of reading or tackling the crossword isn’t enough on its own. Getting out there and learning new skills can make a huge difference.

2. Brain food

Eating the right foods can also play a key part in keeping our brains young. The residents of the Japanese island of Okinawa live longer than anywhere else in the world, purple sweet potatoes that make up much of their diet. These vegetables might be hard to find in the UK, but don’t panic. Blackcurrants are full of anthocynanins, as are blackberries and blueberries. Aubergine and red cabbage contain less, but still a similar amount to those sweet potatoes.

3. Social creatures

Our minds and bodies work best when we have the support of family and friends. Ultimately, human beings are a social species – we need each other to survive in a very real way. Social activity stimulates your brain in a similar way to activities like reading and doing crosswords. Just like learning new skills or being physically active, it helps to develop connections between the nerve cells in different areas of the brain. And research also suggests that people who are lonely are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. When it comes to the brain, a rich and varied life is the key to long-term health.

4. Medical advances – What does cutting-edge science have in store for the brain in the future?  

Young blood… A zapping… Brain implants… keep reading all the latest research and stay on the pulse!