15 Things to Start Doing at 50 That’ll Save Your Brain at 80

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Think your brain is too old to learn new tricks, let alone keep cognitive decline at bay? Think again.

Research featured in the journal Cell Stem Cell in 2019 revealed that neurons continue to form in the part of the brain where memories are processed in your 40s, 50s, and even your 90s.

“Your brain health is a lifelong investment,” says Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose, PhD, PT, Canada research chair in physical activity, mobility, and cognitive neuroscience at the University of British Columbia. “The more regularly you engage in behaviors that are good for the brain, the more resilient your brain may be in the face of aging and disease.”

Here’s what people should do now to keep their brains in tip-top shape in their 80s.

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1. Start moving

Put that pedometer to use. People who started walking 10,000 steps or more daily in midlife had younger brains—about 2.2 years on average—than people who didn’t exercise, according to 2019 research in JAMA Network Open. Plus, getting fit at this age helps guard against depression as a senior, noted a 2018 study in JAMA Psychiatry.

This all occurs, in part, because exercise reduces inflammation and stimulates the release of chemicals that spur the growth of brain cells and blood vessels in the brain. “It also promotes the sense of well-being, reduces stress, and improves sleep, all of which helps keep the brain healthy,” says Dr. Liu-Ambrose.

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2. Eat your greens

People who consume approximately one serving of leafy greens a day are cognitively 11 years younger than those who rarely eat them, shared a 2018 report in the journal Neurology.

Researchers believe lutein, a pigment found in the likes of kale and spinach, could be the reason. A report published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience in 2016 found that lutein helps support gray matter in the part of the brain associated with memory. And since the brain stockpiles lutein over your life span, the more you eat over a longer period of time, the more your brain benefits.

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3. Play Sudoku every day

…or do a daily crossword! Both seem to keep minds significantly sharper, according to two 2019 reports published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Indeed, people who engage in these types of brain games have the problem-solving skills and short-term memory of individuals who are about eight years younger. And for those who favor word puzzles, their problem-solving abilities match those of people a decade younger.

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4. Control your blood pressure

You may know that elevated blood pressure can raise your risk for heart disease and stroke, but having hypertension in your 40s, 50s, and 60s also increases the risk that your mind will suffer later in life, according to the National Institute on Aging.

So, be sure to eat flaxseed, bananas, yogurt, and other foods that can help lower blood pressure. And don’t forget to limit salt intake, too.

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5. Protect your sleep

“If you want your brain to age well, prioritize good sleep now,” says Chris Winter, MD, a board-certified neurologist and the author of The Sleep Solution. Deep, restorative sleep is essential for producing growth hormone, which studies show helps preserve healthy brain processes like memory and alertness.

In addition, our brains are programmed to get rid of waste, like the amino acid beta-amyloid, while we sleep. If we don’t sleep well, that waste accumulates. “A build-up of beta-amyloid is the main component of Alzheimer’s plaques,” says Dr. Winter.

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6. Sip smart

Cheers! Moderate wine drinking may quell brain inflammation and help the brain remove toxins, noted a 2018 study in the journal Scientific Reports. “That’s not to say people who don’t drink should—or need to—start,” says Julie Andrews, RDN, a registered dietician nutritionist and the author of The MIND Diet Plan & Cookbook.

While light to moderate alcohol consumption increases the waste-removal function, higher alcohol intake impairs the same function, thus increasing inflammation. “If you already imbibe, dial back your own consumption to one 5-ounce glass of wine a day for brain health,” she said.

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7. Avoid processed foods

Filling your belly with processed foods activates immune-like cells, called glial cells, in the brain. “This can lead to low-grade inflammation, which is a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease,” says Emeran A. Mayer, MD, PhD, an expert in brain gut microbiome interactions and the author of The Mind-Gut Connection.

Moreover, a 2014 study published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging found that a diet high in processed foods leads to a decrease in brain tissue, and that may contribute to dementia.

Even if you’ve been a fast and packaged food fan your whole life, “small healthy tweaks now can add up,” says Andrews. “It’s never too late to improve your diet to reduce your risk of developing dementia.”

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8. Keep friendships strong

Schedule a brunch date, go for group walks, or plan to regularly check in with your friends, says Joel Salinas, MD, an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. “Maintaining emotional support promotes activity in specific brain circuits that lead to the production of BDNF, a molecule that’s critical for brain cell repair and the creation of new connections.”

In a 2017 study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, Dr. Salinas found that a dwindling social circle can reduce BDNF levels, which can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Later research reinforced the health impacts of loneliness. “As we age, it’s common for social networks to shrink, making it very important to foster what we already have,” he says.

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9. Add more berries to your diet

“Berries are one of the hallmark foods of a brain-healthy diet, in part because they contain antioxidants that fight off oxidative stress,” says Andrews. Oxidative stress greatly contributes to the decline of the brain-protective omega-3, docosahexaenoic acid or DHA. “Even consuming a few servings of berries a week can make a big impact on preserving DHA and brain function in general,” she says.

In fact, enjoying just two or more helpings of blueberries or strawberries weekly can delay memory decline by two and a half years, according to 2012 research published in the journal the Annals of Neurology. 

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10. Learn to meditate to boost brain health

You may want to start making meditation a part of your daily routine.

As part of a 2016 study, the results of which were published in NeuroImage, researchers tested the brains of 50-year-old meditators. They discovered the meditators’ minds were about 7.5 years younger on average compared to people who didn’t practice meditation. Even better: Every year past the age of 50 that people meditated shaved an additional one month and 22 days off the age of their brain.

The researchers theorized that the mental energy required to meditate induces neural nerve cell production and the formation of synapses.

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11. Add more fish to the menu

The omega-3 fatty acid called DHA seems to help keep your brain functioning normally and efficiently. “The thing is, your body can’t produce it on its own, so you must consume it,” says Andrews. “And fish like salmon, herring, mackerel, tuna and sardines are brimming with DHA.”

That helps explain why research has found that eating just one serving of fish a week can improve thinking skills—something that even holds true for people at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

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12. Ward off type 2 diabetes

People with prediabetes and diabetes tend to have worse long-term memory and more trouble problem-solving compared to those with normal blood sugar, found a large-scale study published in Diabetologia in 2018.

However, researchers noted that when patients and their doctors take steps to delay and control diabetes, their brains tend to do better.

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13. Eat walnuts for better brain health

While all nuts are considered brain food, walnuts are especially beneficial for your brain health because they’re packed with the healthy omega-3 fat called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Some ALA is converted to the omega-3 DHA. “DHA is the most abundant fat in the brain, so consumption is very important for preserving brain function,” says Andrews.

As a matter of fact, regularly eating walnuts is linked to quicker thinking, mental flexibility, and better memory, according to a 2014 study in The Journal of Nutrition.

Not a walnut fan? Researchers found that people who are 55 and older who eat more than 10 grams (about two teaspoons) of nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, or peanuts daily have much sharper minds.

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14. Tame stress

Stress itself isn’t the issue—it’s how you react to it.

A 2019 study in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine found that people who react to stressful events with negativity experience worse mental focus and cognitive health than those who take stressful situations more in stride.

If you fall on the negative side, start finding ways to alter your stress response now. Researchers found that people who overreact to stress as they get older (in their 70s and beyond) perform the worst on cognitive tests.

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15. Learn a new skill

A study published in The Gerontologist in 2013 found that for people over 60, engaging in creative endeavors like painting classes or learning an instrument greatly improved their recall and processing speed. Researchers speculated that participating in these types of activities shore up the brain’s defenses.

But there’s no reason to wait until you’re 60 to learn something new: According to the American Psychological Association, the amount of white matter—a mix of nerve fibers and their protective covering—in your brain keeps increasing until about age 50. That makes mid-life prime-time for brain-building.

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