Mental Exercises for Dementia

One of the things people fear most about getting old is the possibility of developing dementia (mental impairment); however, recent studies suggest that regular participation in physical and mental exercise can help keep the brain sharp and diminish the effects of the aging process. Thinking your way through puzzles or games can help stimulate the mind, reducing the risk of developing neurodegenerative disease by almost half while improving your current memory capacity and learning new skills.

Puzzles

• Solving a puzzle is a great form of mental exercise. To help keep your brain functioning at its peak, do crosswords, sudoku, word scrambles, logic puzzles or even jigsaw puzzles. Each type of puzzle poses a different challenge for your mind, from critical thinking to space relations. Use a variety to help keep your brain young. For the greatest decrease in the risk of developing dementia, try to work on puzzles at least four times a week, and do your best to complete them without peeking at the solutions.

Education

• It's never too late to matriculate, and many non-traditional learners are heading back to school. Across the nation, local schools and community colleges are catching on to the trend, offering evening and weekend classes on topics that are popular with adults. Becoming a lifetime learner improves problem-solving skills and builds self-confidence. If heading back to the classroom isn't for you, try learning at home by studying a new language or learning a new word each day--anything to keep your brain engaged and healthy.

Activities

• A number of games, such as Scrabble, chess, checkers or bingo, can bolster your mental acuity. Play games that require skill, strategy and planning, rather than those that are simply based on luck. Additionally, physical activity can help keep the mind sharp. By engaging in sports, such as bowling, swimming, bicycle riding, dancing or walking, you can keep yourself fit both physically and mentally.