Practical tips to help stay sharp
FOR many older people, losing their mental sharpness is one of their biggest fears. Thinking skills, such as memory and the speed at which we process information, change during our lives. While many people believe that these changes are down to our genes, research shows that lifestyle and environmental factors might play the biggest role. Staying Sharp is Age UK’s new online hub on brain ageing. It suggests some practical steps we can take to help us stay sharp in later life, based on the latest advice from experts:
KEEP active. Get moving and do exercises or activities that you enjoy. New activities might help improve thinking skills in later life as they challenge us in new ways.
DON’T smoke. It’s linked with having a thinner cortex, the brain’s outer layer that is crucial for thinking skills.
HAVE check-ups for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are linked to a risk of decline in thinking skills.
EAT a healthy diet that’s high in fruit, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, beans and cereals, moderate in fish, dairy products and wine and limited in red meat and poultry.
MAINTAIN a healthy weight through sensible eating and activity.
LOOK after your sleep. Aim for seven to eight hours a night.
LEARN a new language, as this is also linked with better thinking skills in later life. And it’s never too late to start. If anything, the benefits of speaking multiple languages might increase with age.