Want To Keep Your Memory Sharp? Neurologists Recommend This Easy Brain Exercise

Everyone wants to keep their memory sharp and their brain functioning well as they age. But some of the tips on how to support cognition can be overwhelming, like the common advice to learn a new language or start playing a new instrument. Isn’t there an easier way to keep your memory functioning?

Fortunately, there is—and it supports not only memory but mental health too.

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An Easy Way To Keep Your Memory Sharp, According to Brain Health Experts

If you want to integrate a brain exercise into your routine as a way to support your memory, Dr. Jeffrey Portnoy, PhD, a neuropsychologist at Holy Name Medical Center, says that interactive games you can play with others is one easy—and enjoyable—way to go. “Interactive games, such as card games played with others, help to build strategy development and preserve abstract reasoning ability,” he says.

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Dr. Portnoy says that socializing and having conversations are a natural way to engage the brain because conversations challenge you to consider others' thoughts and formulate your responses. Have you ever spent an extended amount of time by yourself not talking to anyone? When you do finally talk to someone—whether it’s the checkout person at the grocery store or a loved one who gives you a call—it can sometimes be difficult to engage in a normal back-and-forth at first. This shows how socializing is like a muscle; it can be harder to do if you don’t practice it regularly.

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“The most important thing that we are missing the most in this social media era is that we have limited our in-person personable interaction,” says Dr. Muhammad Arshad, MD, a neurologist at Memorial Hermann. “Actually talking to other people in person and having fun and easy discussions are important tools to keep a healthy mind and mental health. Even talking over the phone with family and friends can be helpful,” he says.

In addition to supporting cognition, scientific research shows that social interaction is important for mental well-being, especially as we age. Participating in social activities can help reduce depression in older adults. Research shows that the more social an older adult is, the less likely they are to be depressed.

What brain games should you play while you’re socializing? “The best brain exercises involve things you've always liked to do,” Dr. Portnoy says. This can look like card games, joining a jigsaw puzzle club or playing board games together.

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Other Ways to Keep Your Memory Sharp

Playing games with others isn’t the only way to support your memory as you age. Dr. Seemant Chaturvedi, MD, a neurologist and the Stroke Program Director at the University of Maryland Medical Center says that doing crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles on your own is helpful too. “You can see benefits from doing jigsaw puzzles just one to two times a month, and crossword puzzles two to three times per week,” he says.

To integrate these habits into your routine, you could leave a jigsaw puzzle out on a coffee or card table and spend a few minutes working on it whenever you have time or while you’re eating breakfast or lunch. Or you could leave a crossword puzzle book on your nightstand to do every night before you go to bed as a way to wind down.

Dr. Chaturvedi also recommends doing tai chi, which not only supports memory but also improves balance—including for stroke survivors. Dr. Arshad says that physical activity, including tai chi, increases blood flow to the brain, which in turn helps neurons communicate better with each other and keep the brain functioning well. “Exercise increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a molecular factor that increases synaptogenesis. Synaptogenesis is the formation of new synapses that help with learning and memory,” he says.

Last but certainly not least, Dr. Portnoy says that getting enough sleep, eating a nutrient-rich diet and prioritizing mental health are all important for brain health.

There is a lot that can be done to support memory well into old age. Playing games while socializing does more than support your brain health—it supports others’ too. That means no matter what the outcome of your game is, everyone who plays is a winner.

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Sources

• Dr. Jeffrey Portnoy, PhD, neuropsychologist at Holy Name Medical Center

• Dr. Muhammad Arshad, MD, neurologist at Memorial Hermann

• Dr. Seemant Chaturvedi, MD, neurologist and the Stroke Program Director at the University of Maryland Medical Center