In addition to physical exercise, good nutrition, getting enough rest, and managing stress, exercising your mind – throughout all stages of life – can help condition your brain for long-term wellness.

Mental gymnastics, or exercises that challenge the mind, are particularly important in later life. Research suggests that in a healthy brain, mental stimulation generates new connections among nerve cells throughout life. These connections enhance the brain’s "information – processing" networks. Reading, listening to music, doing crossword puzzles and talking to people who challenge you to think can lead to greater mental alertness and, in turn, greater independence in later life.

It also appears that every time the heart beats, 25 percent of its output goes straight to the brain. By keeping your heart healthy, you can keep a flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients going to the brain. This explains why exercise can be so important to cognitive function and brain fitness.

Some medical conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, are not part of the normal aging process but are not currently preventable or reversible. Research on Alzheimer’s disease is making important strides as scientists continue to explore factors that may contribute to the disease and measures that may delay the symptoms, including medication and a healthy lifestyle.

While a number of factors, like family history and genes, may predispose us to developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, research suggests that we may have some control over risk factors. There is evidence that conditions such as high
cholesterol and high blood pressure—factors that contribute to strokes and heart disease—may also increase the risk for some types of dementia.