REALAGE TIP

A Walk on the Cerebral Side

Hate the thought of losing your mental edge -- or worse, growing senile -- as you age? Well here's a simple way to slash your risk of dementia by 73 percent:

Go for a power walk. People who walk regularly may be that much less likely to develop dementia compared to their couch-potato peers. Yeah, it's that simple!

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What's your favorite way to challenge your brain?

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Iknit

1 of 1 people found this helpful.

9/15/2008 3:40:29 PM

What a great tip Ironbob! Thank you. I've bought a new bike (mine was left in another state accidentally) and am enjoying riding again. I thought I'd be too old for it now, but as soon as I mounted, I was like a duck to water. Wonderful! I feel like I've found my wings again..... actually feel younger! Thanks again.

Ironbob88

1 of 3 people found this helpful.

8/4/2008 4:56:36 AM

For years I have been doing triathlons. To keep in shape I simply bike to work every day. It is a real time saver as I have to get to work anyway. I am very fortunate as I can bike on a bike path along the river away from the traffic and pollution. It takes about 45 minutes each way and is 17 kilometres. I would recommend it to all. If you are concerned about the distance go part way in the evening or on the weekend. When you start bike to work and take public transit home then take transit back to work and bike home the second day until you feel you can handle commuting both ways without over doing it.

Iknit

5 of 5 people found this helpful.

7/29/2008 4:40:52 PM

I agree SunBug....I've also been enjoying for a couple of years the games and puzzles on Shockwave Games....and in Jigsaw Puzzles on-line, I get to do the jigsaw, whilst also enjoying friendly conversation with the other players. And some of the other games are real brain teasers or hand/eye/brain coordination tangles challenging.

georgeg

10 of 13 people found this helpful.

7/28/2008 5:36:59 PM

think positive at all times

wildwind

7 of 9 people found this helpful.

7/27/2008 9:00:27 PM

I volunteer walking dogs at our local Humane Society. This really gets me out in the winter. The dogs love it; I love it and everyone wins!

foresight

10 of 11 people found this helpful.

7/27/2008 11:58:55 AM

I find helping sick people and comforting them helps me. I have a goal every day for a few hours. Also reading good books, listing to news and keeping busy with housework helps! HELPING OTHER PEOPLE IS THE KEY.

SunBug

16 of 17 people found this helpful.

7/26/2008 12:46:27 PM

I discovered free computer games such as; Spintopgames.com and Bigfishgames.com. They have something for everyone that can give your brain a workout give your hand-eye coordination a workout, whatever you prefer. Since having a series of minor strokes I have found these to be good for me and a nice break once in awhile.

5750

13 of 14 people found this helpful.

7/26/2008 12:37:23 PM

Of course, everyone knows that scheduling your workout or walk at the same time each day helps. I have found, if possible, to walk in the morning. I am much more likely to walk in the mornings than in the evening.

poolwalker

12 of 12 people found this helpful.

7/26/2008 9:27:14 AM

Walking in a 3-4 feet pool is great for arthritic joints/back problems. It has been a lifesaver for me. My physical therapist started me at 10 minutes per day and I've increased to 60 minutes every day. (Increase time by 5 minutes every week.)

harleyjane

6 of 9 people found this helpful.

7/26/2008 5:38:09 AM

I learned how to play chess, and now I play every day. It's a great game and really gives your mind a work-out!

AnkleWeigh...

23 of 25 people found this helpful.

7/25/2008 9:57:47 PM

BALANCE is the key. Half hour mental exercise PLUS half hour physical exercise. Repeat as needed. (Walking IN the house may not be enough, One has to push to get that heart rate UP.)
\ if the Good Earth didn't grow it don't eat it! I try, but I am sure there is a chicken nugget bush somewhere. (Deep fried chicken in saturated fat will shorten your life by 5 or10 years.)

cooking_girl

22 of 23 people found this helpful.

7/25/2008 9:38:11 PM

try to learn something new each day. walk in and around the house if you can not get out too much.

Bulia33

15 of 15 people found this helpful.

7/25/2008 8:20:46 PM

Tolerate things that upset you from other adults as tho it were children, and it is amazing how much better you feel about the upset

rockytop

8 of 8 people found this helpful.

7/25/2008 3:37:37 PM

Write your memories...A good way to get started, if you're having trouble, is to write a description of a walk-through (physical only) of a house from your past; i.e. grandparents home, etc. I've found that the physical details often stir up memories, when associated with the details of the house, that I'd completely forgotten or at least thought I had. Now you have a starting point for your memories.

Silver_Lyre

9 of 10 people found this helpful.

7/25/2008 3:10:17 PM

Here's some tips for tips for those less free and less self-motivated, 1. Gaze at a map and try to draw it on a clean page beside the map, without looking at the page you're filling. That's for the right-side of the brain--to stimulate the imagination. 2. Learn the computer and read news and comment from a number of sources, and answer them if you wish, as often as you have time to do so--every day, 3 times a week, etc. 3. Take walks--cover whatever mileage you can manage, while trying to lose weight; eat well. What you see while being out and aboutis as important as the energy you invest in the exercise. 4. Read non-fiction and only that fiction, poetry, etc. that you find worthwhile. 5. Turn off the television set; and listen to old radio shows on MP3. One 1/2 show has more information in it and more value than any two-hour-long movie released in any year, except perhaps for 1 or 2. 6. Make a list, any time you have more than four things to remember--this saves your mind for contemplating, spending time on, evaluating and anticipating important values.