Brain health refers to various aspects of your brain, such as cognitive, motor, emotional, tactile, and sensory functions.
Among other factors, age is one of the leading causes of brain decline, mainly because we stop stimulating our brains when we reach retirement or the golden age.
When we retire, we often lose a lot of intellectual engagement we got from our job. Without that, we’re not optimizing our brain health for life, explained Jessica Caldwell, PhD.
Luckily, all hope isn’t lost. You can take charge of your brain health by doing simple brain exercises for the elderly, such as reading, storytelling, and solving puzzles. These exercises will maintain regular brain stimulation and support brain health as you age.
Let’s look at 11 brain exercises for seniors that’ll help you keep that brain active and young.
1. Reading and Storytelling
Reading
Reading is one of the most straightforward brain memory exercises for seniors. You can read at home, while catching a bus, at your favorite coffee shop, or as you enjoy scenic views after a swim at the beach.
This simple exercise is ideal for improving memory and helps stimulate your brain by building your imagination.
Leisure reading, the kind that really sucks you in, is good for you, and it helps build the mental abilities on which reading depends,
said Beckman researcher Liz Stine-Morrow, the director of the Adult Learning Lab, a faculty member in the Department of Educational Psychology.
She further explains that reading boosts episodic memory, which comes from relating one event to another, especially when connecting what happened in previous chapters to the next one. Her remarks also state that reading improves working memory, which is the ability to multitask various memories in our brain as we engage in other tasks.
Stine-Morrow adds,
There’s a pretty robust literature showing that there’s a relationship between working memory and both language comprehension and long-term memory. Working memory seems to decline with age, but there’s a lot of variation, especially among older adults,
Storytelling
According to the Engagement Center For Creative Aging’s publication, storytelling has profound benefits for brain health, especially in individuals grappling with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Storytelling can capture one’s attention, glue them to the moment, and support memory function by engaging brain parts linked to memory stimulation.
Storytelling also improves creativity, as it compels you to engage your brain when narrating unique stories to others or writing them down. Creativity stimulates your brain cells, keeping them active and healthy.
Boost Your Brainpower—Try These Simple Exercises Today!
2. Solving Puzzles
Puzzles are great brain exercises for the elderly. They are ideal for passing downtime or reducing screen time, but they are also perfect for stimulating the brain and keeping it sharp by improving concentration skills.
American Heart Association health journal publication states, “It can certainly help you concentrate if you spend an hour or two doing puzzles,” said Dr. Vladimir Hachinski, a Canadian neurologist and global expert in brain health. “It’s good because you’re exercising your brain.”
There are different types of puzzles that you can pick now and then, from crosswords, Sudoku, and jigsaw puzzles.
Jigsaw puzzles engage both sides of your brain and require you to concentrate using your logic and creative skills. Therefore, they enhance the functions of all sides of the brain, maintaining its health.
Soduku and crossword puzzles also boost your brain’s ability to focus because they need concentration and logical thinking. Hence, it improves long-term brain health.
3. Playing Card Or Board Games
Did you know playing board games and cards isn’t just a way to show off your game prowess and flex your muscles but also counts as the best memory exercise for seniors?
These games are linked to improved brain health and reduced risk of cognitive decline. They help improve memory and foster emotional well-being through the feeling of achievement and social connection.
Cards and board games such as chess, bridge, or Scrabble require logical thinking, strategic planning, and pattern formation to ace your game. Therefore, they help you access, engage, and stimulate different brain parts, supporting memory, mental stamina, and cognitive functions.
Another overlooked benefit of playing card or board games is that they help improve fine motor skills. Moving pieces from one spot to another on the playboard helps enhance brain-hand coordination, which is very important for seniors losing touch in this area.
These brain exercises for the elderly also boost social skills and help you build a community of like-minded individuals, which is key to supporting mental health and avoiding isolation.
4. Learning A New Language
Learning a new language is fun and engaging. It also stimulates brain cells and fosters connections between nerve cells. It’s also associated with enhancing cognitive reserve, which is the brain’s ability to preserve itself from damage as you age and the ability to find other ways of executing a task. Hence, it helps protect the brain from the onset and risk of dementia and Alzheimers.
Living in the digital era has made learning a new language easy. You don’t have to walk into a classroom to learn. You can just download an app, log into a website, and start learning immediately. Take advantage of that and pick up a new language anytime!
If technology is a challenge for you, you can opt for community classes near you, which are more social and will help you pick up new words and friends, too!
5. Practicing Meditation And Mindfulness
Stress and anxiety can lead to excess production of cortisol, which works with certain parts of your brain to regulate mood. Prolonged exposure to unhealthy levels of cortisol can impair your cognitive functions and lead to depression and lack of motivation.
Therefore, it is essential to practice meditation and mindfulness to lower cortisol levels, reduce stress and anxiety, and achieve mental stability and calm.
To bring your body and mind into a healthy balance, you can set aside minutes in your daily routine for breathing exercises, yoga stretches, and even guided sleep meditation.
6. Engaging in Music Activities
Listening to music and engaging in musical activities is key for brain health because music can unimaginably connect with the brain.
Playing an instrument stimulates both sides of the brain and involves your nervous system.
Music activities help improve brain-hand coordination, improve memory, and cognitive functions. According to his account, “It engages every major part of the central nervous system,” narrates John Dani, PhD, chair of Neuroscience at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine. Then he adds saying, “Recent studies suggest that music may be a uniquely good form of exercising your brain,”
7. Writing And Journaling
Writing and journaling are brain exercises for the elderly that require using logic, creativity, and memory to compile thoughts, ideas, and memories into words. They are suitable for keeping the brain entertained and active.
You can add spice to cognitive exercises for seniors by adding creative writing and poetry to stimulate your mind. Learning to navigate poetry and creative writing will spark more interest in you and boost your brain’s functions.
Writing and journaling also support brain health through self-regulation, equivalent to talking to someone or performing relaxing, mindful yoga exercises. Therefore, they are vital in managing stress and anxiety and promoting positive brain health and emotional well-being.
Keep Your Mind Young—Try These Brain-Boosting Exercises Today!
8. Physical Exercises With Mental Challenges
Just as physical exercise is good for your heart and body, it’s also good for your brain health. Physical exercises boost oxygen circulation in the brain, which is essential for practical cognitive functions.
It also improves communication between brain cells and lowers inflammation. Hence, it supports healthy brain cells and reduces the risk of neuro damage.
You can enjoy a variety of cognitive exercises for seniors, from taking a brisk walk to enjoying dancing, tai chi, or yoga for body-mind coordination. The trick is to have at least 30 minutes of physical exercise that slightly pushes you and elevates your heart rate within safe limits.
Sanjeev Kumar, MD, a neurologist with Lawrence Neurology Specialists, says, “Any exercise is better than none at all, but the real benefit comes from cardiovascular activity. Aim to get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week,”
9. Engaging In Lifelong Learning
Learning is associated with lower levels of cognitive impairment because when you learn something new, your brain stays active. Learning demands a set of correlated cognitive processes, including arousal, undivided attention, response to novelty, and awareness, which use up the right brain hemisphere and working memory.
Taking online or physical courses that interest you should be at the top of your list if you want to preserve your brain as you age.
You can also pursue hobbies such as photography, painting, or gardening that will engage your brain and get your hands busy.
11. Digital Brain Training Tools
Last but not least, you can leverage the power of technology to explore digital training tools to boost your brain’s power and cognitive health. These tools help stimulate your brain to improve memory retention, focus, thinking, and processing speed.
You can add online brain games for seniors to balance screen time and offline activities and get the most out of your gadgets and online time.
Stay Mentally Fit And Focused—Discover Brain Exercises That Work!
Conclusion
You can’t change DNA or family history, but you can take care of your brain health by including these 11 brain exercises for the elderly. These exercises will not only help your brain but also improve the overall quality of your life.
You can take baby steps today by starting small as you build your stamina and skillset. All in all, be encouraged that it’s never too late to strengthen your mind and enrich your life!
10. Socializing And Volunteering
Brain fitness for seniors involves engaging in social activities in groups or clubs. These activities foster community spirit and reduce the risk of isolation and age-related brain decline.
So, it’s essential to stay connected to your social circles and find volunteer opportunities in your community to spend time outdoors as you put your skills to use.