Stay Active

Staying active is one of the most important things you can do to slow down mental ageing. It can also be a great way to keep your mind sharp, boost your mood and even improve your sleep.

The problem is that many people have become sedentary, spending large amounts of time sitting down in their homes or in work or travel. Sedentary behaviour is associated with a number of health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes and depression, all of which can impact on your cognitive health.

Keep Learning

One of the key ways to slow down mental ageing is to keep learning. Research has shown that learning new things and challenging your brain can help to increase cognitive functioning and even stave off dementia.

Keeping up with your hobbies and taking up new skills can also be beneficial to your wellbeing, as can networking with others. This can be done through events such as meet-ups and online social networks, but it’s also possible to take classes or join courses at your local community college.

Keep Brain Active

One of the most important ways to slow down mental ageing is to keep your brain active. Just like a muscle, the more you use your brain, the better it gets at doing the things that matter to you.

Keeping your brain active also helps build grey matter in your brain, which improves your memory and other thinking skills. And it can help to strengthen connections between nerve cells, which may also slow down the signs of aging.

Manage Stress

Stress is a normal part of life, but too much stress can cause serious health problems. Chronic stress can lower your immune system and put you at a higher risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and depression.

At any age, the body responds to a stressor by releasing certain hormones like cortisol and adrenaline so that you can fight off the threat. The problem comes when those hormones are released all the time or in excess.