Did you know that 50 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia? November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and in honor of that fact we here at Piedmont Home Care thought it would be fun to share some good ways to help keep your brain active. While there are no clear-cut answers as of yet to whether you can prevent Alzheimer’s, research has shown there are things that can improve brain health and delay cognitive decline.

1. Learn a new language. Maybe you heard your grandmother say, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Turns out, that cliché is wrong. You’re never too old to learn new things, and the benefits of being bilingual might just surpass being able to order in a native language at your favorite French restaurant. Sign up for some language classes at Forsyth Tech or check out Duolingo, the language learning app.

2. Do the crossword. Or suduko, or word searches. Just like with learning a new language, activities that make you think help grow new brain cells and keep the current cells active, which helps delay the onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

3. Join a book club. This activity covers two bases at once. You not only keep your brain active with reading (and often learn something new by reading books you normally wouldn’t pick out on your own), but you also get the added benefit of socializing with others. Research has shown that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of dementia, so go out and talk about a book with friends, or just keep making those lunch dates and getting to church dinners.

4. Play cards with friends. Another double whammy, as card games such as bridge or even rummy get your brain working while adding up points and you get some social time in with your playing partners.

5. Join the local Y or find a Silver Sneakers exercise class. Studies have shown that regular exercise helps add brain cells, boosting your defense from dementia. For people 65 and older, the recommendation is for 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week. That sounds like a lot, but it’s just 30 minutes for five days of the week or 50 minutes three times a week. Make sure you stick to a schedule by joining a class.

Our compassionate, talented caregivers at Piedmont Home Care are one way to help ensure you tackle some of the fun things listed above. Not only does the personal interaction of a caregiver help alleviate loneliness, we can also assist you in getting to events or appointments. Call today to see how Piedmont Home Care can help you or a loved find improved quality of life.

If you’re interested in learning more about the services provided by Piedmont Home Care, call us today at (336) 724-1197 for a consultation. We provide convenient, compassionate care for families in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and throughout the Piedmont Triad region.