Challenge Yourself

Just as physical activity improves your body’s ability to function, studies show that keeping your brain active may help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.Black Chess King with Pawns

Research is showing that by using your brain, you increase its networks of connections. A brain-healthy lifestyle also emphasizes the importance of overcoming routine and monotony in our daily lives. By approaching daily routines in new ways, you engage new or little used mental pathways.

Since the evidence suggests that mental stimulation enhances brain activity and may help maintain brain health throughout life, it is important to put your brain to work.

Challenging your brain doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be as simple as dialing the phone with your less dominant hand or as complex as learning a new language. Remember, the goal is to give your brain a new experience and a workout each and every day.

Take Action to Challenge Your Brain

  • Play games to challenge your mind – chess, word and number puzzles, jigsaws, crosswords and memory games.
  • Pursue a new interest such as learning to play a musical instrument, taking a course or going to the theatre.
  • Break your routine – take a different route to the store or change the order of your morning routine.
  • Involve one or more of your senses in a novel way – write your name with your opposite hand or count out coin change by using your sense of touch.
  • Read a book – discuss it with a friend.
  • Pursue cultural activities like going to plays, museums, concerts, galleries.
  • Keep up hobbies such as sewing, carpentry or take up a new hobby.
  • Cross train your brain – try a variety of mental challenges.

Note: Your abilities, health situation and interests should be taken into consideration when choosing brain healthy activities. If you have questions about your own situation, speak to your doctor or health-care provider.

Brain Health Website Graphic
The Importance of Brain Health Infographic
Reduce Your Risk
Reduce Your Risk

There are no guarantees, but healthy lifestyle choices will help keep your brain as healthy as possible as you age.

Read More
Be Socially Active
Be Socially Active

Staying active and involved with life sends healthy messages to your brain and body. Take action to be socially active.

Read More
Make Healthy Food Choices
Make Healthy Food Choices

Healthy food choices not only improve your general health, they are also beneficial to brain health.

Read More
Be Physically Active
Be Physically Active

Even moderate physical activity promotes the circulation of blood to the brain, which nourishes the cells with nutrients and oxygen.

Read More
Reduce Stress
Reduce Stress

Since you cannot always remove stress from your life, how you deal with stress becomes very important to your long-term health.

Read More
Protect Your Head
Protect Your Head

It is important to protect your head, no matter your age, for lifelong brain health and to reduce your risk of developing dementia.

Read More
Choose Wisely
Choose Wisely

Our ability to retain life-long brain health is very much influenced by the choices we make in our daily lives.

Read More