According to a neurologist, here are the top five ways to keep your brain sharp as you age

The Huffington Post says there are plenty of effective ways to keep your mind and cognition intact and here are the top 5:

  • Photo By: John Howard/ThinkStock
    Photo By: John Howard/ThinkStock
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    1

    Keep Socializing

    You're less likely to suffer memory loss as you get older if you have a social life.  So pick hobbies that involve other people, not just stuff you do by yourself.

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    Photo By: ballda/ThinkStock
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    2

    Challenge Your Brain

    Read, play games, and do crossword puzzles.  And try something NEW every once in a while, like learning a new instrument or another language.

  • Photo By: Piotr Romantowski/ThinkStock
    Photo By: Piotr Romantowski/ThinkStock
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    3

    Don't Stress

    Impossible, right?  Well, a ton of studies have found that too much stress can have long-term effects on your memory and your decision-making skills.

     

     

  • Photo By: Zlatko Kostic/ThinkStock
    Photo By: Zlatko Kostic/ThinkStock
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    4

    Exercise

    It improves blood flow to your brain, which helps you stay focused.  And it also helps with memory.

  • Photo By: Miguel Angel Salinas Salinas/ThinkStock
    Photo By: Miguel Angel Salinas Salinas/ThinkStock
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    5

    Stop Eating Empty Calories

    Examples of empty calories are sweetened yogurt and sweetened breakfast cereals containing added sugars.Your brain works best when your diet is high in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates, which you can get from whole grains.  And a new study that came out this week found that even if you're not overweight, cutting calories can improve your mood, your quality of sleep, and your libido.

     

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