Most of us assume that keeping the brain sharp means doing crossword puzzles or sudoku. Those are fine. But according to a neurologist at the Ohio State College of Medicine, the best thing you can do for your brain is something most people overlook entirely.
Dr. Douglas Scharre told New York Post the answer is social connection. Staying connected to other people, like real conversations and real relationships, does more for your brain than almost any puzzle or mental exercise.
The idea behind this is something called brain reserve. Dr. Scharre explains it this way: the more you work on your brain health, the more robust your brain reserve becomes. A stronger reserve can delay memory problems, like forgetting where you left your keys.
And the good news? It’s never too late to start. Dr. Scharre says the best time to begin is right now, at any age. Middle age or younger is ideal, but today is always a good day to start.
A new survey from Ohio State University found that 60 percent of Americans want to prioritize brain health earlier in life. The catch? Most just don’t know how.
Dr. Scharre points to several things that help build and protect brain health over time:
- Staying socially active: this is the one he says beats the rest
- Sudoku, reading, and art: all helpful for stimulating the brain
- Managing conditions like high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol
- Getting treated for sleep apnea if you have it
That last one surprises a lot of people. Sleep is not just rest; it’s when your brain does serious maintenance work. Untreated sleep problems can quietly chip away at brain health over time.
The takeaway from Dr. Scharre is a reassuring one. You don’t need a complicated plan. Pick up the phone and call a friend. Join a club. Have dinner with your family. Those everyday moments of connection are doing your brain a world of good.
