Research shows that people with more education have a greater cognitive reserve and this works as a protection in the face of mental decline.But there's a twist to it: educated people tend to get Alzheimer's at a later age but once they get it, they're getting it at a higher load of the disease and appear to decline at a faster rate.

Never stop learning

Cognitive activities like crossword puzzles, reading or playing music may delay memory decline among people who eventually developed dementia.

Crosswords

It can reverse the shrinking of the hippocampus, the part of the brain essential to the formation of long-term memory that tends to shrink as we age.Even just six minutes of exercise post-learning can help boost memory.

Exercise

It happens when a person is in a situation where they are anxious that they may conform to a negative stereotype aimed at his or her social group.Positive stereotypes, or success on previous memory tasks, can help combat this negativity.

Stereotype threat 

Research shows that involving multiple senses, like the picture of a flower with a floral scent, enhances people's ability to memorize what their senses are taking in.

Engage all your senses

Research suggests that socializing may help our minds because it encourages people to take better care of themselves, reduces stress and releases beneficial neurohormones, stemming from the emotions usually caused by being with loved ones.

Socialize

Splitting our attention is more problematic than productive.We generally have a hard time refocusing when we switch attention between tasks.

One thing at a time

This is a learning technique that uses repeated testing over increasing intervals until what you're trying to memorize finally sticks. You test yourself a lot at first, then less and less over time.

Spaced Interval Repetition (SIR)

Researchers found that consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (like salmon, walnuts, and soybeans) may help counter sugar's brain drain.

Eat right

Whether it's becoming a Sudoku champion or remembering the name of someone you just met, everyone probably wishes they could muster up a little extra brain power. There are no quick fixes when it comes to improving or the preventing decline of cognitive functions like memory, info processing or critical thinking but there are some very basic steps you can take to keep your brain as healthy as possible.

One thing at a time

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