15 things to start doing at 50 that’ll save your brain at 80

Think your brain is too old to learn new tricks, let alone keep cognitive decline at bay? That’s faulty reasoning. Research featured in the journal Cell: Stem Cell reveals that neurons continue to form in the part of the brain where memories are processed in your 40s, 50s, and even your 90s. “Your brain health is a lifelong investment,” says Dr Teresa Liu-Ambrose, a specialist in cognitive neuroscience at the University of British Columbia. “The more regularly you engage in behaviours that are good for the brain, the more resilient your brain may be in the face of ageing and disease.”

Check out these age-defying brain-boosting foods.

Put that pedometer to use. People who started walking 10,000 steps or more daily in midlife had younger brains – about 2.2 years on average – than people who didn’t exercise, according to research in JAMA Network Open. Plus, getting fit at this age helps guard against depression as a senior, notes a study in JAMA Psychiatry.

This all occurs, in part, because exercise reduces inflammation and stimulates the release of chemicals that spur the growth of brain cells and blood vessels in the brain. “It also promotes the sense of well-being, reduces stress, and improves sleep, all of which helps keep the brain healthy,” says Liu-Ambrose.

Here are 15 benefits of walking for just 15 minutes.

People who consume approximately one serving of leafy greens a day are cognitively 11 years younger than those who rarely eat them, according to a report in the journal Neurology. Researchers believe lutein, a pigment found in kale and spinach, could be the reason. An earlier report published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience found that lutein helps beef up grey matter in the part of the brain associated with memory. And since the brain stockpiles lutein over your life span, the more you eat over a longer period of time, the more your brain benefits.

Here’s how to know if you’re eating enough vegetables.

Or do a daily crossword. Both seem to keep minds significantly sharper, according to two recent reports in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. Indeed, people who engage in these types of brain games have the problem-solving skills and short-term memory of individuals who are about eight years younger. And for those who favour word puzzles, their problem-solving abilities match those of people a decade younger.

Check out these 21 brain games guaranteed to boost your brain power.

You may know that elevated blood pressure can raise your risk for heart disease and stroke, but having hypertension in your 40s, 50s, and 60s also increases the risk that your mind will suffer later in life, according to the National Institute on Aging.

Here are some ways you can start lowering your blood pressure today.

“If you want your brain to age well, prioritise good sleep now,” says Dr W. Chris Winter, author of The Sleep Solution. Deep, restorative sleep is essential for producing growth hormone, which studies show helps preserve healthy brain processes like memory and alertness. In addition, our brains are programmed to get rid of waste, like the amino acid beta-amyloid, while we sleep. If we don’t sleep well, that waste accumulates. “A build-up of beta-amyloid is the main component of Alzheimer’s plaques,” says Dr Winter.

For help getting optimal rest, here are 13 top tips from sleep experts.

Cheers! Moderate wine drinking may quell brain inflammation and help the brain remove toxins, notes a study in the journal Scientific Reports. “That’s not to say people who don’t drink should – or need to – start,” says Julie Andrews, a nurse and author of The MIND Diet Plan & Cookbook. While light to moderate alcohol consumption increases the waste-removal function, higher alcohol intake impairs the same function, thus increasing inflammation. “If you already imbibe, dial back your own consumption to one glass of wine a day for brain health,” she says.

Filling your belly with processed foods activates immune-like cells, called glial cells, in the brain. “This can lead to low-grade inflammation, which is a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease,” says Dr Emeran A. Mayer, author of The Mind-Gut Connection. Moreover, a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging found that a diet high in processed foods leads to a decrease in brain tissue, and that may contribute to dementia.

Even if you’ve been a fast and packaged food fan your whole life, “small healthy tweaks now can add up,” says Andrews. “It’s never too late to improve your diet to reduce your risk of developing dementia.”

Are all processed foods bad? Read this.

Schedule a brunch date, walks, or plan to regularly check in with your friends, says Dr Joel Salinas, an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. “Maintaining emotional support promotes activity in specific brain circuits that lead to the production of BDNF, a molecule that’s critical for brain cell repair and the creation of new connections.”

In a 2017 study, Dr Salinas found that a dwindling social circle can reduce BDNF levels, which can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. “As we age, it’s common for social networks to shrink, making it very important to foster what we already have,” he says.

Learn 12 simple ways to make friends as an adult.

“Berries are one of the hallmark foods of a brain-healthy diet, in part because they contain antioxidants that fight off oxidative stress,” says Andrews. Oxidative stress greatly contributes to the decline of the brain-protective omega-3, docosahexaenoic acid or DHA. “Even consuming a few servings of berries a week can make a big impact on preserving DHA and brain function in general,” she says. In fact, enjoying just two or more helpings of blueberries or strawberries weekly can delay memory decline by two and a half years, according to research in the journal the Annals of Neurology.

Watch out for the worst foods for your brain that you should be avoiding.