9 Tips to Keep Your Brain Sharp and Healthy as You Age
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9 Tips to Keep Your Brain Sharp and Healthy as You Age

9 Tips to Keep Your Brain Sharp and Healthy as You Age
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Updated on October 22, 2026
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If you forget your keys or repeat yourself, it doesn’t necessarily mean you're developing a serious health problem like dementia. Your brain changes with age — both in size and in structure — and these differences can, and usually do, affect how well it works over time.

There are steps you can take to preserve functions such as memory — even as your brain shrinks and its nerve cells lose some of their ability to communicate with one another.

According to the latest research, these nine tips can help you remain mentally sharp as you get older.

1. Control Your Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Levels

High cholesterol and high blood pressure increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, which are thought to contribute to the development of certain types of dementia, or changes in memory and thinking that affect your daily life.

 A global analysis published in 2024 named high LDL ("bad") cholesterol at midlife as one of its top risk factors for dementia.

Good cardiovascular health — which you can maintain by not smoking, following a healthy diet, staying physically active, and having healthy blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels, along with a healthy weight — is associated with better cognitive function.

Your doctor can let you know if your blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol are in a healthy range, along with what steps you can take to improve or maintain your cardiovascular health.

2. Don’t Smoke or Drink Excessive Amounts of Alcohol

Smoking and drinking too much both put you at an increased risk for dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. If you smoke, it’s best to quit, and if you drink, you should do so only in moderation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines moderate drinking as less than two drinks per day for men and less than one per day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed.

 A “drink” is typically 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or liquor, depending on the alcohol content of each beverage.
Underscoring the importance of limiting your alcohol intake, a study found that alcohol consumption above seven units per week (equivalent to four standard drinks) was associated with higher levels of brain iron, which in turn is linked to worse cognitive function.

3. Exercise Regularly

Regular physical activity is thought to help maintain blood flow to the brain and reduce the risk for conditions such as high blood pressure that are associated with dementia.

A global dementia-prevention report published in 2024 listed exercise among 14 key factors that, together, help prevent or delay nearly half of all dementia cases worldwide.

At any age, it’s important to choose activities you feel comfortable doing, and to build up the time and intensity of your workouts gradually. Talk to your doctor about any forms of physical activity that may not be safe for you.

4. Maintain a Healthy Diet

What you eat can make a big difference in how well you think and remember things.

Foods containing nutrients such as vitamin E, B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to improved cognitive function, according to a research review.

Conversely, foods that are high in saturated fat may be harmful to certain brain functions, another research review noted.

According to these findings, an ideal diet emphasizes foods such as green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, berries, and seafood. Healthy eating plans include the Mediterranean diet, which features vegetables, healthy fats like olive oil, and omega-3 fatty acids from fish, and the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, which focuses on fruits and veggies, fat-free or low-fat dairy, whole grains, and lean meats.

A newer diet called MIND (Mediterranean–DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) incorporates many elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets but with modifications to maximize beneficial effects on brain function.

The MIND diet includes 9 brain-healthy food groups: green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, and olive oil. It limits five unhealthy groups: red meats, butter and stick margarine, cheese, pastries and sweets, and fried food and fast food.

5. Stimulate Your Brain

A mentally engaging job and other activities that exercise your brain may help build cognitive reserve — the ability to function well in spite of brain diseases or other challenges.

You can also keep your mind active by learning new skills or practicing old ones. A number of educational and cognitive interventions — including those related to learning about nature, playing a musical instrument, and training your sense of smell — may help improve thinking, mood, and overall quality of life, according to a research review.

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6. Socialize More

Making new friends or spending time with the ones you have may be good for your brain. In one study, researchers found that social isolation was linked to a lower volume of gray matter in the brain and a 26 percent higher risk of dementia during a follow-up period lasting an average of 11.7 years.

Another study found that among Medicare beneficiaries in the United States who did not live in a care facility, social isolation was linked to a 28 percent higher risk of developing dementia over a period of 9 years.

An international study including data from more than 50,000 participants found that those who engaged in three or more social activities showed improved cognitive performance. Activities like volunteering and sports clubs were among the most beneficial.

7. Stay Sexually Active

Sexual intimacy — however you define it — can be pleasurable at any age, and some research has linked more frequent or more satisfying sexual activity with better cognitive function later in life, though the effect appears to vary by age and sex.

 Sex may increase the release of certain brain chemicals that boost cognitive function, the researchers noted. Consistent sexual activity may also be indicative of someone who is physically, mentally, and socially engaged.

More recently, a study found that among married older adults, those who reported greater sexual satisfaction were less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment or dementia over the course of 10 years.

8. Play Brain Games

Brain or memory games — and even games in general — can help keep your brain healthy. Although these games won’t offset the brain changes that come with aging, they may help test and train your memory, experts say. In addition, playing games with friends and family can be part of an active social life, which has its own brain benefits.

“Brain training” games — cognitive exercises designed specifically to challenge your memory, attention, speed, flexibility, or problem-solving — can be fun, and may help with certain skills. But there isn’t much evidence that brain training reduces the risk for dementia.

9. Get Enough Sleep

While sleep needs vary from person to person, most people need 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night — and not getting enough sleep is linked to poor health outcomes, including a higher risk for dementia. While the science isn’t settled, many experts believe that during sleep, your brain “flushes out” beta-amyloid and other substances that contribute to dementia risk.

In a study published in 2021, adults ages 65 and older who slept less than five hours each night were more than twice as likely as others to develop dementia over the next five years. They were also 2.4 times as likely to die of all causes during that period.

Sleep habits earlier in life may also contribute to dementia risk in older age. In another study, getting less than six hours of sleep each night at age 50, 60, or 70 was linked to a higher risk of developing dementia during a 25-year follow-up period. For participants who got less than six hours of sleep at all three ages, the risk for dementia was 30 percent higher than for participants who got seven hours of sleep — even after adjusting for other factors linked to dementia risk.

Additional reporting by Brian P. Dunleavy.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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