What Do-Gooding Does for Your Brain

by Real Age

Are you a do-gooder? If you are, chances are you'll stay sharp as a tack as you age. Volunteering in a social setting -- tutoring kids in a library or school, for example -- can help reverse or delay declines in brain function that happen with aging, research shows.

Plastic Brains Are Good The thing is, your brain is plastic. No, not like those jelly bracelets from the 80s. Brain plasticity refers to its ability to change and form new connections between neurons in response to novel situations. Unfortunately, it's natural to lose a little of this plasticity over time. And when you don't use your brain, the sluggishness gets worse. So it's essential to stay active -- not just mentally but physically and socially. (Find out how being fit helps brain plasticity.)

Get Your Good Deed On
Volunteering fits the bill on many fronts. It challenges the brain to think critically and learn new things. It creates a social outlet (also good for the brain). And getting involved in a good cause can add meaning and a sense of purpose in life -- all good things for mental well-being. So do your brain a favor and find a volunteering effort that captures your interest, whether it's helping children find books in the library or cooking meals for shut-ins. And try these other brain boosters as well:

• Find out how spending time with a first grader can make you smarter.
• Work your brain with a daily sudoku puzzle.
• See how your brain benefits from surfing the Web and being computer savvy.

Are you at risk for Alzheimer's disease? This quiz can help shed some light.

Get Energized

Enhancing energy is at the heart of every yoga practice—it's designed to release energy blockages and optimize the healthy flow of life force (prana) throughout the body. When energy is moving throughout your whole body, it's easier to attain health and happiness. So each time you do a yoga practice, you're taking one step toward improving your health.

Certain kinds of poses are particularly good for unblocking and stimulating the body's energy. Backbends in particular are energizing, since they stimulate the nervous system, open the heart, and expand our breathing capacity. Breathing practices help cultivate and maintain our life force, increasing our health and vitality. But while focusing on backbends and breath work can help our health, all we really need to do to start feeling better is unroll the mat. Each and every practice takes us one step closer to greater well-being. - Yoga Journal

30 Minutes to a Better Mind

You can boost the mind-protective HDL in your bloodstream just by doing this for 30 minutes a day: walking.

When researchers looked at the relationship between HDL and cognitive function in people ages 95 to 107, those with higher HDL had superior memory. And a daily walk is a great way to boost HDL.

Get More HDL
HDL is the "good" cholesterol -- and more is definitely better when it comes to this friendly fat. In fact, people who live past 100 tend to have higher HDL than people who don't reach a ripe old age. HDL may up your odds of being a quick-witted senior as well, helping to ward off both Alzheimer's and dementia. So what are you waiting for? Start boosting your levels today with a daily walk. (Get tips on squeezing 10,000 steps into your day by watching this video.)

HDL to the Rescue
Researchers believe HDL helps fend off Alzheimer's in several ways. First, it helps keep your veins and arteries clear, allowing blood to travel easily to both your heart and your head. HDL also encourages communication between brain cells and may discourage Alzheimer's-related amyloid plaques. And finally, HDL protects delicate brain cells from inflammation. (Think your memory has to decline with age?Here's why you should avoid this stereotypical thinking.) - Real Age