Fun & Easy Exercises to Increase Your Brain’s Cognitive Reserves

As we grow older, we now know it is as important to keep our brains active as it is to stay physically active.  Studies show that we not only lose muscle mass as we age but our brains actually begin to shrink.  An article from Everyday Health Media’s website explains that, “your brain's cognitive reserve — its ability to withstand neurological damage due to aging and other factors without showing visible signs of slowing or memory loss — diminishes through the years.” 

Brain exercises such as word games and jigsaw puzzles as well as playing an instrument or learning a foreign language can all help to increase our brain’s cognitive reserves.  Hand-eye activities that require fine-motor skills such as knitting, drawing and painting are also helpful.  Learning to cook a new cuisine is a tasty way to keep our brains healthy since cooking involves different parts of our brains including taste, smell, sight and touch.    

Another tip from the website is to get in the habit of sharpening your recall skills.  This can be as simple as writing down a list of things you need to buy from the store, memorize it, and then an hour later try to remember as many things as you can from it.  They also recommend you try to do math problems in your head, and for a further challenge do it while walking.   

At MorningStar of Boulder, we provide an environment that encourages both physical and mental activities.  One look at our monthly calendar, from our Walking Club, to Cranium Crunches, to Sing-a-Longs, and you will see it is loaded with wellness programs and entertaining activities that are fun and stimulating.  In fact if we do not already offer an activity a resident would like, we help them to start one. Please visit our website to learn more about MorningStar of Boulder’s community.     

MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Boulder represents the best in senior living with a distinct mission statement - “to honor, to value, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve.  We are dedicated to providing a true home for residents amidst a beautiful, serene setting and invite you to schedule a visit to experience one of the area’s finest senior living communities.    

Source: everydayhealth.com/longevity/mental-fitness/brain-exercises-for-memory.aspx