EAT MORE FRESH VEGETABLES

They’re rich in vitamins and nutrients (like E, B6, and folic acid) that protect against brain cell damage. But don’t forget that as soon as you pick a tomato off the vine or pull a carrot out of the ground, its nutrient content starts to decline. So the longer it sits on store shelves (or inside your refrigerator), the less good it’s doing you. Buy the freshest produce you can, or freeze it at the height of freshness for later use.

PLAY MIND GAMES

This is the best way to slow the mental decline that can come with aging. Take up a musical instrument. Try to recall the addresses of the last four places you lived. Renew your local library card—and use it.

SIGN UP FOR DANCE LESSONS

Exercise boosts the brain’s rate of neurogenesis—the generation of new brain cells—throughout your life. To really sharpen your gray matter, pick a workout that stimulates you both mentally and physically. One great example is dance. Moving the body in a coordinated fashion and following along with complex movements in sync with music requires lots of brainpower. Dancing also works your heart, so you’re pumping more blood upstairs.

WEAR A HELMET

Since the brain has the consistency of a hard-boiled egg, bruising it even mildly can have a significant impact on memory.

CHOOSE RED OVER WHITE WINE

Red wine contains a compound called resveratrol, which recent research shows may help prevent the buildup of plaque. Brain plaques are often seen in Alzheimer’s patients, and they cause a breakdown in the communication between neurons.

Dr. Oz