Learn a foreign language
Studies show that learning something new and complex over a long period of time can protect an ageing brain. Not only are listening and hearing exercises great mental stimulants, but learning a new language can also reduce your risk of cognitive decline.
Memory exercise: enrol in a foreign language course at your local college or online. If you’re strapped for time, Rosetta Stone or Duolingo will allow you to learn at your own pace.
Increase your processing speed
Quick on your feet, or slow to the punch? If your answer is the latter, your brain might be in trouble. Learning to react and process things at a fast pace can ward off dementia, according to research published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
Memory exercise: try PQRST, a five-step method for processing lengthy written information quickly. The acronym stands for: Preview or skim the material, ask Questions about the document’s main points, Reread it, Study the answers to your questions, and Test yourself.
Repeat it out loud
Saying information out loud can increase your chances of remembering it later, research says. In a study published in the journal Memory, subjects who read written information out loud showed a five to 15 per cent boost in retention.
Memory exercise: to remember something you have just done, heard, or read, repeat it out loud; doing so will nail the memory down in your mind.
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