7 Things We Can Do To Protect and Enhance the Aging Brain

As women over 60, we can’t ignore the fact that age is taking a toll on our brains. Words and names become more elusive. Misplaced items become more common. Our friends start repeating things they told us just days ago. So what can we older women do to protect or improve our brain function? Plenty, according to Dr. John Medina , a developmental molecular biologist, natural storyteller and the author of Brain Rules for Aging Well . He shares his scientifically-supported insights with Margaret Manning in today’s delightfully tongue-in-cheek video interview. The Usual Suspects: Diet and Exercise After an extensive review of the scientific data, Dr. John is convinced that a Mediterranean diet is the only truly brain-healthy one. As he puts it, “Eat sparingly, plant-based foods.” Chow down on fresh veggies, fruits and nuts. Get your proteins from fish or chicken and your fat from olive oil. Don’t, however, marry this or any diet; it’s fine to cheat once in a while. In fact, cheating may be essential for your emotional well-being. Who sticks with a diet of constant deprivation? As to exercise, forget everything you’ve heard about the brain benefits of strengthening exercise. Stick with moderate aerobic activity, such as brisk walking. Think 5,000 steps per day for brain health; double that for weight loss. Decentering Techniques Decentering is the practice of shifting your focus to somebody else’s world so that you can stop thinking about the problems in your own. To significantly reduce your risk of all-cause mortality, try decentering through one or more of the following techniques: Sitting Down with a Good Book Reading first-rate literature in the form of paper, audio or single-use e-reader books is a most pleasant ways to decenter. But it has to be exceptional literature! Think J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of […]

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