2012-10-11-omaglogo.jpg




By Lara Kristin Herndon


Increase your coordination, brighten your mood and stay sharp into old age.




Loading Slideshow...



  • Break a Sweat


    Good news: Even a little exercise grows brain cells. A 2011 study showed that older adults who walked just 40 minutes a day three days a week reversed age-related brain cell loss by one to two years.




  • Breathe Deep


    People who meditated as little as 20 minutes a day showed changes in the amygdala, which regulates emotion, according to a 2012 study. "These changes correlate with less depression and more happiness," says Gaelle Desbordes, PhD, a researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital.




  • Roll in the Hay


    In a study involving amorous rodents, Princeton researcher Elizabeth Gould showed that regular sex sprouts new cells in the hippocampus, where they help decrease anxiety.




  • Toss It


    In a 2009 University of Oxford study, people who practiced juggling 30 minutes a day for six weeks grew new cells in areas of the brain associated with processing visual information into movement. Possible benefits include increased coordination and faster reflexes.




  • Toss the GPS


    Research shows that older adults with better navigation skills have more gray matter in their hippocampi -- and a decreased risk of dementia.