Brain fitness is near the top of the list
for baby boomers.

Mean while scientists the world over are busting their you know what’s, trying to unravel the many mysteries of our grey matter.

Like how our brain processes, remembers, ages and how diseases like Alzheimer's develop.

It’s all so we can better understand brain fitness and how to keep our organic computers healthy and sharp.

But while there is still a lot to learn about what makes our brains tick, some studies have revealed multiple things we can do to keep the baby boomers brain power from fading, or at least slow it down, as time goes by.

FOR STARTERS, EAT BRAIN FOOD.

Your brain fitness is tied to what you eat. A diet of junk food can clog up your brain, as things like trans fats and saturated fats, (common in heavily processed foods) can negatively affect the brain's synapses.

You want your synapses working properly, they connect the brains neurons and are key to learning and memory.

So eat a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (found in salmon, walnuts and kiwi fruit) these can give the synapses a boost and help fight against mental disorders from depression to dementia.

And don’t forget blueberries. Blueberries have been known to effectively prevent and even reverse age-related brain deficits including short-term memory loss.

Blueberries, in addition to enhancing short-term and long-term memory, also reduce the risk of age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, by preventing the effects of free radicals. So eat them, everyday if you can.

So watch what you put in your mouth, keep it natural, organic and fresh as possible. Your brain is counting on you to do the right thing.

HIT THE ROAD.

Getting on a good walking or running plan can also improve your brain fitness, keeping you mentally sharper and thinking more clearly, all the while decreasing your risk of developing cognitive diseases.

You see, exercise is a mild stressor to the body, by eating up energy needed by your brain, it triggers the release of chemicals called growth factors that make your brain's neurons stronger and healthier.

Half an hour every other day will do it, experts say. But talk to your doctor, you may be able to get in more if you’re also trying to lose weight. Just stick to a walking plan or running plan for the maximum mental and physical benefits.

And don't forget to stretch. Yep, besides keeping you more flexible, stretching can help reduce stress, which can impact the memory centers of your brain as well, so stretch it out when ever you can.

MIND EXERCISE

Brain fitness also requires giving your brain a workout, too. Play crossword puzzles, memory games, take up cards or learn a totally new game. Learning new games stimulates the brain even more. For your brain, nothing is more boring than doing the same thing over and over again.

Studies have shown that making games a habit (and learning new ones) keeps you mentally active can reduce the risks of developing dementia by constantly stimulating your brain.

Even following politics (I know it sounds ironic) can provide a boost to the systems that control attention and learning. Plus all the flip flopping will give you a good laugh.

MEMORY TRICKS

Keeping information stored in your memory banks and retaining that memory with age can also be a simple matter of mind control.

Because as we get older, many baby boomers tend to blame memory lapses on age, regardless of whether or not that is the cause. After a while we don’t even really try and remember. That’s bad for brain fitness.

So work on remembering key things, could be phone numbers or addresses or show times, what ever. Just keep your brain active with information that you retrieve on a daily / weekly basis.

You’ve got to work on it, if you have a good idea of the information you'll need to recall later, you're more likely to remember it.

GIVE IT A BREAK

Sleep, your brain needs it more than you think. This is the time when your brain replays the memories of the day and consolidates them for long-term storage.

One study suggested that the brain does its reviewing / consolidating much faster when you're asleep than when you're wide awake.

So a mid-afternoon nap can help solidify long-term memories, such as events or skill games you’re trying to master. Besides, what’s not to like about a siesta in the afternoon.

Of course, none of these mind-enhancing tips is fool-proof. And there is nothing you can do about genetics.

But for now, while scientists work on better indicators and cures for brain fitness, doing your own part to keep your body and brain healthy can do nothing but help.

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