Be a Lifelong Learner
You may be exercising regularly and paying attention to your diet, but what good is a body that's in tip-top shape without the brains to match?

Just like your body, your brain needs -- and benefits from -- exercise. But not just the physical kind. To stay young and fit, your brain needs mental exercise, too -- the kind where you push your brain to solve problems or complete cognitive tasks.

Research shows that keeping your brain active and engaged with new challenges can actually help build new connections between brain cells.

Learn more about the keys to brain health in this article. How long can you stand on one leg -- eyes closed -- without losing your balance? For people 45 and older, balancing for 15 seconds is a sign of a young brain.

Source: YOU: The Owners Manual



It's not difficult to find new and interesting ways to challenge yourself mentally. Here are a few suggestions:

Exercises for the Brain
1. Sign up for classes at your local community college or adult education institution. Choose something you've always wanted to know more about, whether it's computers, photography, yoga, or medieval history.
2. Attend lectures and plays. Local high schools, community theaters, and community colleges often offer a broad selection.
3. Visit museums that interest you, from art and history museums to smaller museums that present the history of computers, surfing, fashion, or railroads.
4. Read books, magazines, newspapers, or news online. Soak up the information and then write your thoughts about it in a journal.
5. Work puzzles. Test your brain with this crossword puzzle. Not into word play? Try this Sudoku puzzle for a good mental workout with numbers.
6. Engage in memory exercises. Studies show that committing your favorite poetry to memory not only can preserve mental function, but also can improve it. Here are some tricks for memorizing poetry. If you're not keen on the words of the bards, try engaging the family in memory-matching card games or board games. Here is a mnemonic exercise for improving your memory.
7. Play computer games. Computer games range far beyond the shoot-'em-up variety. You can play games that develop your memory, your problem-solving skills, your ability to recognize patterns, and your strategy-building skills.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter how you work those brain cells. Just don't get stuck on autopilot. Stay curious about life. Explore, discover, learn. Have an inquiring mind, and don't be afraid to try new things. If you do this, becoming a lifelong student and learner in the process, you can make your RealAge as much as 2.5 years younger.