It’s common knowledge that if you want to improve your physical health, one of the best ways is to start exercising — join a gym, visit a local yoga studio, or simply start walking around your neighborhood.
But just as important as your physical health is your brain health. Did you know you can also exercise your brain to keep it healthy?
“‘Use it or lose it’ is a principle that applies to the brain as well as our physical strength,” said Asad Rehman, DO, a neurologist with Endeavor Health Medical Group.
Dr. Rehman explained that our brains change and adapt throughout our lives, a concept known as neuroplasticity. Engaging in mentally stimulating tasks helps our brains make new connections. Making these connections can increase our “cognitive reserve,” or the ability for the brain to be resilient and withstand the impacts of aging and stress.
“Studies have shown that habitual daily engagement in mentally stimulating tasks can increase performance in memory, reasoning and processing speed,” he explained. “These beneficial effects are still measurable up to five years later.”
Thankfully, exercising your brain isn’t just easy — it’s fun, too! One of the best ways to engage your brain is to play mentally stimulating games like:
- Crossword puzzles
- Sudoku
- Scrabble
- Jigsaw puzzles
If you want to exercise your brain while you wait in line at the bank or have a few minutes in the lobby at your doctor’s office, there are several apps you can download on your smartphone, such as:
- Wordle
- Lumosity
- My Brain Trainer
- Elevate
A recent study found that people with mild cognitive impairments who did crossword puzzles scored higher on memory tests. In fact, over a longer period, those who did crossword puzzles actually showed greater brain health through improved functional skills and decreased brain shrinkage.
Brain games, as beneficial as they are, are not the only way to improve your brain health. According to Dr. Rheman, no one activity or set minimum amount of time will maximally impact your brain health. Rather, your brain can benefit from any activity that requires your full attention and concentration, such as cooking a new recipe, learning a new language, or playing an instrument.
If you need a quick, easy way to keep your mind sharp, brain games — particularly those on your phone — are a great way to get some mental exercise every day.
“Combined with a healthy diet and meaningful social relationships, cognitive exercising cannot only improve brain health, but in some cases, it can stave off mental decline,” said Dr. Rehman.
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