Your Brain Needs Exercise, Too

Exercising your brain will help to combat the natural decline in mental acuity that comes with age. Dr. Karlene Ball and colleagues of the department of psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, conducted a study to see if it was possible to increase the mental abilities of older adults who were without dementia and living independently. They found that entertaining activities such as crossword puzzles or problem-solving questions improved brain function. Basically, anything that requires some concentration and extra thought can do the trick. So, if you are having one of those days when you just don't have the physical energy for a workout, why not take some time to give yourself a mental workout?

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association 2002; 288:2271-2281.