Train Your Brain

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective), reversing or stalling typical, age-related memory loss is a use-it-or-lose-it proposition. Exercising your brain doesn’t have to be a chore, either. Get your gray matter in shape with these fun activities:

• Wean yourself off of your cell phone contact list and memorize friends’ phone numbers (or your own, if you haven’t already).
• Recruit your kids and think of 10 or 15 words that rhyme with “spry” … or another word of your choice.
• Addie Johnson, author of Life is Sweet: 333 Ways to Look on the Bright Side and Find the Happiness in Front of You, suggests practicing those old Spanish verbs or re-learning and reciting that sonnet you loved in high school.
• Switch to your nondominant hand to brush your teeth or control your computer mouse.