World Brain Day is observed on 22 July, serving as a yearly reminder that keeping the mind fit is just as important as caring for the heart. Harvard Health Publishing has recently compiled 12 habits that help slow mental wear and tear. The advice is refreshingly practical: no exotic supplements, just evidence-backed tweaks you can start tonight. Each tip below comes from the Harvard list and decades of cognitive-ageing research. Think of them as levers — pull one, and you nudge memory, focus, and mood in the right direction; pull several, and gains compound over the years.
Harvard-recommended ways to keep your brain young
- Get
mental stimulation every day: Reading, crosswords, language apps, woodworking — anything that makes you wrestle with new information forces the brain to sprout fresh connections. Neural “plasticity” is like muscle: work it, or lose it.
- Move your body with regular exercise: Thirty minutes of brisk walking pumps oxygen-rich blood to thinking hubs and sparks the growth of new neurons. Exercise also tamps down blood pressure and stress, two big brain-agers.
- Eat a Mediterranean-style diet: Pile the plate with leafy greens, berries, nuts, olive oil, fish, and beans. This pattern lowers inflammation and supplies the omega-3s, folate, and antioxidants brains crave.
- Keep blood pressure in the healthy zone: Hypertension in midlife almost doubles dementia risk later on. Stay lean, limit salt and alcohol, manage stress, and take medication if lifestyle fixes don’t hit the target.
- Control blood sugar: Diabetes hurts small vessels that feed memory circuits. Balanced meals, daily movement, and weight control protect glucose levels; medication steps in when those aren’t enough.
- Improve cholesterol numbers: High LDL cholesterol slows blood flow and speeds plaque build-up in the brain. The same trio — exercise, smart eating, no tobacco — shifts the ratio in your favour; statins are a backup plan.
- Ask your doctor about low-dose aspirin: Some studies link a daily baby aspirin to lower vascular dementia odds, likely by preventing micro-strokes. It’s not for everyone, so discuss risks before popping the pill.
- Avoid tobacco in every form: Nicotine constricts vessels and accelerates oxidative stress. Quitting is the single most powerful lifestyle change for the heart and brain combined.
- Drink alcohol sparingly: More than two drinks a day shrinks certain brain regions over time. If you imbibe, keep pours modest and schedule regular alcohol-free days.
- Care for your emotions and your sleep: Anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and chronic insomnia dull concentration and memory. Therapy, mindfulness, and a consistent seven-to-nine-hour sleep window rebuild reserve.
- Protect your head from injury: Even moderate blows — bike spills, sports knocks, falls — raise long-term cognitive-decline odds. Helmets, fall-proof homes, and seat belts preserve brain cells better than any supplement.
- Build and nurture social networks: Strong friendships and community ties buffer stress hormones and keep cognitive batteries charged. Weekly catch-ups, volunteering, or group hobbies all count.