6 Ways To Stay Young

You've heard the saying that the brain is a muscle that needs to be exercised. Well new research is showing us there are specific activities we can do keep away dementia and possibly Alzheimer's, too. Trace explains what they are, and how these activities help.

Read More:
Use It or Lose It: Keeping Brain Active May Help Ward Off Alzheimer's
"Can doing crossword puzzles help stave off dementia? It might, according to a new study finding that people who engage in mentally stimulating activities throughout life — especially in early and mid-life — have less buildup of beta-amyloid protein in their brains in older age."

The Impact of Sustained Engagement on Cognitive Function in Older Adults
"In the research reported here, we tested the hypothesis that sustained engagement in learning new skills that activated working memory, episodic memory, and reasoning over a period of 3 months would enhance cognitive function in older adults."

Learning Digital Photography Improves Cognitive Function in Older Adults
"In my latest 3Quarksdaily column, I discuss the issue of ageism (prejudice against the elderly) and a very well designed new study which compares different forms of cognitive training in older adults."

Alzheimer's patients' brains boosted by belting out Sound of Music
"Belting out classic numbers from hit musicals can boost the brain function of people with Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers who worked with elderly residents at a US care home."

Learn another language to delay three dementias
"Speak more than one language? Bravo! It seems that being bilingual helps delay the onset of several forms of dementia."

RESEARCH REVEALS ROLES FOR EXERCISE AND DIET IN AGING, DEPRESSION
"New studies released today underscore the potential impact of healthy lifestyle choices in treating depression, the effects of aging, and learning."

ANALYSIS OF EFFECTS OF SINGING ON COGNITIVE AND EMOTIONAL
FACTORS IN ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Positive cognitive changes in healthy elderly and dementia populations exposed to singing may lead to cognitive improvement over time.

Watch More:
Why Women Live Longer:
TestTube Wild Card:
Exercise Your Brain:

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[hereshestands]

I work in aged care and there is this one lady who has alzheimer's disease and stutters quite a bit but if you put on an old song she can sing it word for word perfectly. I have always found this intriguing.

[ShawnRavenfire]

My grandmother did crossword puzzles every day, and by the end of her life, her brain was sharper than mine.  The way I figure it, crosswords are different from Sudoku in that it's not just about solving the puzzle, but learning and remembering information and vocabulary.

[fkgabbana]

My grandfather lived healthy in body & mind until about 84, he is still alive but now has dementia & his body is also deteriorating parallel to his mind. He was like 60 at 80 & he did Sudoku, crosswords & walked. He also did a lot of traveling though so he was constantly learning history and new languages but it didn't last forever. The one thing that's definite for all of us is that we will die, so we should get used to the idea before then. :)

[AhmadAboulFarag]

This is very true...I have been doing this for 2 years now...my brain is on a whole other level...I'm still 26...but I noticed how my brain is so much more awake and quicker...simple Rubik's cubes, learning Japanese, learning photoshop, cooking, learning new music...in a very short amount of time...has made my brain different than it was 2 years ago...I can tell because I had very poor memory and I constantly forgot stuff...I also had trouble processing math in my head quickly....all gone...so do that believe me even my hair color changed from blond to brown...lol

[MsWannabeGamer]

It's definitely true that the brain needs to be challenged. Most people stop really thinking and challenging themselves when they finish high school, IF they even finish it. They become very slow after the age of 50 and it's a challenge to teach them, well, anything. Whereas you have people of 80 who are eager to learn, keep up with the world around them and are sharp as a whip.

[ALZulas]

Your brain produces 2k neurons every day. If you don't use them you lose them. So, if you learn a new skill or accomplish a difficult new task those become incorporated into the brain. That's why it's great to learn something new as you age because it puts those new neurons to work for you!

[TheCostcosaurus]

Honestly, you should do whatever you want to do, because it's your life.

If certain activities add a few more years to your life, then it is just a plus.

[everybodyliesv]

As a non native English speaker, I've been learning English for my whole life.... I'm always learning different new languages just because I really enjoy the process! Learning french and arabic at the moment :)

[iameszie]

I'm loving Chinese right now. It's a steep learning curve at first but it gets much better as you go. 

[RavenclawSeer]

6 ways to stay young?
Be happy and try not to let negativity get to you.
Avoid the fast life.
Take care of yourself.
Be true to yourself yet don't go all out everytime.
Eat healthy
Practice a healthy lifestyle.

(Although some look young gentically, I do but I will start working out.  But I am young, I am supposed to look young. Right?)

[RavenclawSeer]

I love French and the little I have learned helped unlock my brain to understand basic French vs translating it.  But I am out of school at the moment and for now I may have to teach myself.  I am terrible with languages... 

[Maven_Morningstar]

Anybody else notice that he is wearing a shirt with a Weeping Angel on it from Dr. Who? Your shirt gave me some scary flash backs dude! Scares the SH*T out of me!!!

[morganjones]

Loving the weeping angels t-shirt. Keep up the good work guys!!

[Sarnamia]

Couldn't let myself blink for most of this

[sadfaery]

A few years ago, I was working for a Chinese community center, so I thought it might be a good idea to, you know, learn how to speak Mandarin.  Well, so did one of our Board members, who was 90 years old at the time.  She was always going out and doing stuff I'm not sure I would even have been adventurous enough to do, like riding an ostrich when she went on holiday to Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as the tamer stuff like spending a couple of years learning a new language.  She was and still is so sharp and intelligent and just fascinating to talk to and learn from.  She's definitely my role model for how to stay younger and sharper for longer.

[CaesarAugustus.]

Trace Dominguez, you are wearing a weeping angel shirt. I applaud you sir on making an excellent decision.

[ashleyb]

I sing all the time, love puzzles and learning. So yay! Even if I don't stay young longer I can say I had a good life. Also... Seriously, weeping angel tee-shirt is awesome but as a sleep deprived whovian I can say not blinking was really hard.

[tekamstheone]

Learn Portuguese it's great!! Always nice to hear big countries remember this good folk!

[katanacutie]

I'm learning Korean and I know Japanese and it is an extremely satisfying and rewarding skill, plus my memory has improved and I'm quite a bit sharper now. 

[JLW]

0:33 Exercise
1:13 Keep your Brain 🧠 Active
1:54 Learn New Skills
2:07 Multilingual
2:27 Sing 🎤