Slash your dementia risk— now!

Memory lapses, trouble concentrating…we can’t help worrying when our brain seems scattered. Indeed, a recent study reveals staying sharp as we age is now our number-one priority! And experts say you can stop— and even reverse— brain aging, cutting your risk of dementia by 88% or more. And it’s surprisingly easy! Just…

Move every day

Getting 25 minutes of brisk exercise daily could cut your risk of dementia by 88%— plus help your brain function as if it’s 11 years younger, suggests research from Sweden’s University of Gothenburg. Turns out walking, cycling and other aerobic workouts keep your heart strong and your arteries relaxed, and that makes it easy for oxygen-rich blood to reach every nook and cranny of your hardworking brain!

Switch up carbs

Six recent studies suggest that up to 80% of us could prevent dementia and slow brain aging by 55% by replacing grains and simple sugars with fresh fruit, vegetables and legumes. Explains David Perlmutter, M.D., author of Grain Brain, “This healthy diet shift reduces the body-wide inflammation that causes brain aging.”

Have happy goals

Having a long-term goal you feel good about— such as trying a new recipe or ingredient every week— can cut your risk of dementia by 58%. That’s the word from a Canadian research team, who say regularly tackling fun, meaningful projects revs the production of a brain-nourishing hormone called nerve growth factor.

Brush and floss

You can cut your risk of memory troubles by 41% just by brushing and flossing daily, according to a study in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy. The bacteria that causes gum disease can travel through your bloodstream and speed aging of your brain. —