As we age, so does our brain. The difference between living a dull life and an ecstatic one is determined by your efforts to keep your cognitive function healthy.
One must wonder at what age is your brain the sharpest. Well, in the years of youth one must think. But in reality, it comes down to how sharp you’ve got it, and not how old you are.
In this article, we will cover different ways you can keep your cognitive capabilities functional and youthful. Keep reading to learn more.
At What Age Is Your Brain the Sharpest?
So at what age is your brain the sharpest? At the reading age. But what does that mean?
Well, reading is a sure-fire life-long exercise that one can perform on a daily basis to keep their mind in check.
Reading is a very common way to exercise the mind, as it is very simple. You can immerse yourself in a rich story and get lost for hours. By forcing the brain to picture and think about what you are reading, you will maintain your cognition.
Reading helps with memory as it works into developing neural pathways as you keep track of important information. Furthermore, reading is a concentrated focus, which will make the rest of your life easier and more enjoyable.
Now, let’s cover other ways to keep your mind sharp.
1. Writing
Writing is the type of activity that has a myriad of benefits, starting with calming your nervous system and going as far as improving your brain health. Due to the engagement of the complex thought and language processes in your mind, writing has similar—if not better—benefits than reading, as it enforces focus and stimulates the memory.
However, as writing involves greater degrees of proactive thought, it works against brain degradation. Not to mention, it is a great way to express feelings and thought. You can work with a single piece until satisfied, or you can write about something new whenever the idea strikes you.
2. Stress Relief
Ridding yourself of stress is an important change for all people. After retirement, it’s important to spend more time with yourself and relax from the difficulty of life.
Mental stress leads to physical stress, which impairs cognitive function. Furthermore, when you are stressed, you cannot perform as well, which will distract you from activities that maintain your health.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to take breaks when stressed, and remember that it’s your time to do whatever you want. Pick up a hobby to calm you down and live life.
3. Dietary Modification
When it comes to food, dietary concerns will determine everything. When you pay attention to the food you eat, you can avoid cardiovascular issues, which lead to a decrease in cognitive function.
If you are obese or eat poorly, your brain is already not at an optimal level.
Plus, healthy foods have antioxidants and other nutrients that help remove free radicals from the body, which chemically break down the cells. If you can establish a healthy diet full of nutrient-dense foods, you will be well on your way to improving your brain health.
4. Mind Games
Not all of the brain activities have to be boring. On the contrary, the more fun they are, the more effects you will receive. One of the best ways to engage the brain is to challenge it.
You can do so with puzzles and mind games.
Some of the best puzzles work logic and memory and help overall cognitive performance. Sudoku and riddles are fun ways to help you think without taking up all day. You can start with the ones in the newspaper, and then buy full books of them if you want more of a challenge.
Use your brain, and keep your mind sharp.
5. Exercise
Exercise is critical to reversing aging. Part of the reason the mind is degrading is that as you age, the synapses weaken and get lost. When you exercise, both through weight training and aerobic exercise, you help reduce these effects and make the brain strong.
Even if you don’t have time for long routines, simple walks can help quite a bit. For instance, walking each day in the morning can help prevent brain shrinkage and lower the risks of dementia.
6. Mathematics
For many, mathematics has been left behind since school. However, math is great for developing a sharp mind. Math engages you and forces your brain to think through the question to get a solution.
By exploring various areas of math, you can get a better understanding of real-world problems. It can help you understand other sciences better, and you will be satisfied to know that you have solved a numerical manipulation that others cannot. You can take classes or just read math books.
7. Social Activity
As social creatures, humans reap benefits from social interaction. By continuing your social interactions into retirement, you keep your mind mentally acute. The brain is highly adaptable, so interacting with people is critical to an open and strong mind.
If you have in-depth discourses and debates with others, you can work on the logical inferencing aspects of your brain. If you have heart-to-heart conversations, you can work on your emotional quotient. Not to mention, speaking to others lets you see the world from another perspective.
8. Language
Picking up a language has so many benefits, starting with improving communication skills, and going as far as providing you with more life opportunities. People say that languages get harder as you age, but it might be the other way around.
Since learning a language involves many skills, such as thought development, memory, and reading comprehension, you can exercise various aspects of your mind. You might find that every part of your life starts to improve. Additionally, you can use your newly learned languages to travel around the world and meet new people.
Senior Living
In short, at what age is your brain the sharpest? The reading age, although there are plenty of ways to stay sharp as you get older.
Make use of this information to exercise your mind. As long as you work on your cognitive function, it can only get better. Age does take a toll, but there are plenty of ways to mitigate its detrimental effects.
If you’re interested in a senior living community that boasts its social presence, appreciates all of its residents, and can accommodate all of their needs, get in touch with us now.
