7 daily practices of people who stay mentally sharp into their 90s - none involve puzzles or brain games - Silicon Canals

"The participants who maintained sharp minds into their 90s didn't spend hours doing crossword puzzles or brain training apps. Instead, they shared remarkably simple daily habits that kept their neurons firing on all cylinders. After diving deep into the research and observing the habits of mentally sharp elders I've met through my travels in Asia, I've identified seven practices that stand out. None of them require special equipment, apps, or even much time. But they do require consistency."

"They simply move, consistently, every day. Research from the University of British Columbia found that regular aerobic exercise boosts the size of the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning. But here's the kicker: You don't need intense workouts. A daily 30-minute walk is enough to trigger these benefits. I've made movement a non-negotiable part of my day, whether it's running through the humid streets of Saigon"

A longitudinal study of over 1,000 older adults shows cognitive decline is not inevitable. Mentally sharp nonagenarians did not rely on lengthy brain-training exercises but adhered to seven simple daily practices. Regular movement—such as a 30-minute walk—supports hippocampal size and verbal memory, with consistency, not intensity, being crucial. Practical activities like dancing, gardening, cycling, or taking stairs maintain daily motion and can incorporate mindfulness through discomfort or focused breathing. Deep social connections and other routine behaviors complement physical activity to sustain neuronal function across decades. Small, repeatable habits compound to preserve cognition into advanced age.

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