Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is like wearing a helmet throughout life: it’s the first line of defense when protecting your brain.
While there is “no silver bullet for promoting brainpower,” setting good social, physical, and nutritional habits is the key to promoting cognitive wellness, says Dr. Jennie Valles, MD, a neurologist in Burke Rehabilitation Hospital’s brain injury program.
Yes, “mentally engaging” activities like reading or playing video games that include motion capture or virtual reality can help stimulate the brain, but Dr. Valles credits big-picture lifestyle choices — like eating right and perpetuating a full social calendar — to long-term prosperity.
So, instead of flipping through the app store for brain games, try evaluating your behavioral patterns first. You can start by prioritizing Dr. Valles’s tips for optimizing brainpower.
