7 Best Ways to Keep Your Memory Sharp

Emerging research has revealed some factors in addition to exercise and diet that can make a real difference. This is “a tremendously active area of research right now,” says Susan Resnick, PhD, a senior investigator at the National Institute on Aging.

Stay socially engaged. Social isolation and loneliness have been linked to cognitive decline and dementia. Research on “super-agers”—people ages 80 and older with the memory ability of those 30 years younger—points to a potential key factor that sets them apart from their peers: satisfying, high-quality relationships. Social contact benefits the brain by building cognitive reserve (see “Why Some People Don’t Get Dementia,” below), promoting healthy behavior, and reducing stress and inflammation.

Connect to others by joining a group exercise class, staying in touch with loved ones, or volunteering.

Protect your hearing and vision. Hearing loss often goes untreated. But a growing body of evidence shows that as the severity of hearing loss increases, the risk of developing dementia also rises. Similarly, older adults who experience vision loss have an almost 50 percent higher dementia risk. These declines may also mean less activity in certain brain areas—and often less social interaction and physical activity.

Research suggests that older adults may be able to slow cognitive decline by using hearing aids. To protect your vision, have your eyes checked (annually for most), and treat problems promptly.

Avoid air pollution. Inhaled particles of pollution can get deep into your lungs and your bloodstream, and even travel to the brain. Living in areas with considerable air pollution, such as next to highways, can increase your risk of developing dementia.

While relocating isn’t always possible, you can check at airnow.gov to avoid spending too much time outside when pollution levels are high. And using air purifiers can also help improve your indoor air quality.

Reduce alcohol intake. Recent research shows that any amount of drinking can harm your health, and heavier drinking is linked to a greater risk of dementia. In a recent study, researchers looked at brain scans from about 40,000 people and found that how often they consumed alcohol was one of the dementia risk factors with the biggest impact.