4. Sleep to restore you memory

Your brain needs regular, restful sleep to process, store, and recall information. Nightly deprivation not only leaves you cranky and tired, but poor sleep can significantly damage your brain and central nervous system. You’d better establish a regular sleep schedule to reinforce your natural circadian rhythms.

5. Learn to relax and manage stress

Lifelong stress can double or quadruple your chances of Alzheimer’s disease, yet simple daily tools can minimize its effects. The harmful stress hormone cortisol hampers nerve cell growth and connection and accelerates cognitive decline, premature aging, depression, diabetes, and other assaults on your brain.

6. Stay connected

We are social creatures, and the most connected fare better on tests of memory and cognition. Meet friends for lively conversations, games, book clubs or even chess. Try cooking, languages, music, literature, sculpture, art, yoga, weaving, dog training ...to slow your cognitive decline.

7. Protect your brain

It's important to take precautions against head injury by wearing your seatbelt, wearing protective headgear when bicycling, horseback riding, etc., and making sure your home is fall-proof.

8. Quit unhealthy habits

Substance abuse can do irreparable damage to the brain as well as other bodily systems. They include smoking, excessive alcohol use, illegal drug use and prescription drug abuse.