Stimulating Activities for the Brain
Many seniors experience cognitive decline as they age, affecting their ability to think and concentrate. Cognitive decline can also affect a person’s memory or ability to complete standard functions. Seeing a decline in cognitive function may signal an underlying condition, such as dementia, but it doesn’t have to be an inevitable part of aging. As a part of Brain Awareness Month, consider incorporating a few brain-stimulating activities into your routine to slow the progression of cognitive decline.
Puzzles
Puzzles are a popular activity for people of all ages. From jigsaw puzzles to word games, they’re both fun and mentally stimulating. Regularly completing puzzles is linked to improved short-term memory, mood, and visual and spatial reasoning, especially in older adults. Puzzles are also an excellent tool for unwinding at the end of the day to promote a more restful night’s sleep.
Learn a New Skill
You’re never too old to learn something new. Some research finds that learning new skills may enhance cognitive function in older adults. You can study a new language, take a music lesson, or sign up for a gourmet cooking class. Make a list of all the things you’ve always wanted to learn and choose one or two to try.
If you can’t think of a specific skill, come up with a list of topics you’re interested in exploring, such as urban planning, linguistics, or religion. You can then contact a nearby community college and ask if they have any classes on that topic that you can audit, which means you take the course without receiving a grade or credit. You can also find books, documentaries, or online resources to examine on your own.
Teach a Skill
Teaching someone a skill is also a great way to help stimulate the brain. You can teach a child or grandchild how to cook, volunteer for a nonprofit, and share marketing techniques that you’ve acquired in your career, or spend an after teaching your caregiver how to play your favorite childhood game. Chances are, there are plenty of skills and information you could consider yourself an expert on. Share that knowledge with someone open to learning something new.
Activate Your Senses
When you activate more than one sense at a time, it leads to sensory stimulation. Sensory stimulation can improve the well-being of people with neurocognitive disorders and cognitive functions in older adults. Spend an afternoon doing something that stimulates your smell, hearing, touch, taste, and vision. Activities that activate your senses include cooking, playing an instrument, painting, and dancing.
Nourish Your Brain
What we eat plays a vital role in our brain health. The brain is an organ that requires certain nutrients to function correctly. Two primary nutrients known to improve brain health are omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.
- Omega-3 fatty acids help build and repair brain cells and can improve the structure of the brain’s neurons. Some research also found that high levels of omega-3s can increase blood flow to the brain and may result in stronger cognition. You can find omega-3s in many fish, such as salmon, tuna, herring, and sardines. Omega-3s are also in nuts, flaxseed, and soybeans.
- Antioxidants can help prevent inflammation and oxidative stress on brain cells, contributing to brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders. You can find a great source of antioxidants in dark chocolate containing at least 70 percent of cacao. Other antioxidants include blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and mulberries.
If you’re a senior interested in starting a few stimulating brain activities but would enjoy them more with a companion, the team at Visiting Angels can help. Our Daphne office serves those in Baldwin County and the surrounding neighborhoods. Our compassionate caregivers enjoy accompanying clients as they complete puzzles, learn new skills, or cook brain-healthy foods. If you’d like to learn more about our services, call 251.517.9700 or send us a message!