5 Tips To Improve Mental Acuity

A few days ago, I asked the readers how they felt about growing old.  One of the responses I received talked about not fearing aging, but not wanting to lose mental acuity.  I can related to that opinion, and in fact, share it.  Strongly.  If forced to choose between the two, I would much rather lose physical mobility than lose my mental function.

Photo credit Ben Matthews

It made me think about Alzheimer’s, which is one condition associated with aging that I truly fear.  There’s a great deal of research going on related to the disease, and scientists are learning more every day about ways to stave off the condition. There are things each of us can do to increase mental function.

Ways To Improve Mental Acuity

A study conducted in 2008 indicates that the brain function of seniors age 70 and older, when compared to a 1990′s baseline, is improving.  That’s good news for everyone, and it parallels similar results regarding physical function. So, as a group, we’re all staying stronger and mentally sharp for longer periods of time.

But, that’s not the case for everyone.  So, the question becomes, how can we retain our independence and mental acuity?

Eat More Dietary Copper

Much of the current work on Alzheimer’s disease focuses on amyloid beta plaques, which researchers believe deposit in the brain, inhibiting mental function.  Scientists in China have discovered that copper (II) inhibits the formation of some of these plaques, thereby preventing their accumulation in the brain.  Dried beans and nuts are excellent sources of dietary copper.

Learn To Juggle

I learned to juggle when I was 12-years old.  It’s a skill that still amazes both kids and adults, so I’m usually the de facto clown at parties.   I can live with it though, because it gives me an edge.   Scientists have long known that learning complex tasks increases mental acuity.  Recent work showed that six weeks spent learning to juggle yielded a 5% increase in white matter.  Taking the time to learn any new, complex skill will provide this benefit.

Control Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is considered a risk factor for Alzheimer’s and dementia.  There are many things that a person can do to control their blood pressure.  Scientists have shown that older Americans who adhered to the DASH diet retained better mental acuity than their peers who did not follow this eating regimen.

Taking the study a step further, they found that the foods giving the greatest benefit to mental function were whole grains, vegetables, nuts, and low-fat dairy products.

Stay Active

In the same DASH diet study, it was found that those participants who lived the most sedentary lifestyle performed worst in tests involving cognitive function over the course of the study.  This finding is consistent with much other work that points toward the power of physical activity for retaining mental acuity.  Taking this work a step further, scientists found that long-term moderate activity increases mental acuity, while long-term strenuous activity may have a negative effect.

Drink More Coffee

Coffee is generally synonymous with caffeine, which is actually an alkaloid plant toxin, intended to protect plants from attacking insects.  What generally doesn’t get mentioned is that the process of brewing (extracting) coffee from the ground beans also carries along a lot of other compounds.  One of which is 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, an antioxidant.

Even though coffee does not contain a lot of antioxidants, the fact that the global production exceeds 16 billion pounds per year makes it the largest single source of antioxidants for most people.  This fact, coupled with more recent findings indicates that caffeine itself may have a preventative effect on Alzheimer’s.

What this shows is that there are a variety of things we can do to stave off the effect of aging on mental acuity.  What holds true for physical activity also carries over to mental function.  What are your thoughts for retaining, or even improving mental acuity with age?