Page 219 - Mind Games The Aging Brain and How to Keep it Healthy

Regain an Agile Brain • 203

cation that you are willing to try new things. And last, but
not least, keep in contact with your friends. Practice those
mental skills. Have little contests to see who has the better
memory. The loser has to practice harder the next week.

SELF-QUIZ

Here is a self-assessment on the six characteristics associated
with successful aging and mental agility. For each one, list
what you now are working on for developing these charac-
teristics and then identify three things in each characteristic
that you can start doing to regain your brain.

What am I doing now What can I start doing
for my brain? to regain my brain?
Absence of cardiovascular and other diseases
1. _________________________ 1. __________________________
2. _________________________ 2. __________________________
3. _________________________ 3. __________________________
High socioeconomic status
1. _________________________ 1. __________________________
2. _________________________ 2. __________________________
3. _________________________ 3. __________________________
Involvement in a complex and intellectually stimulating environment
1. _________________________ 1. __________________________
2. _________________________ 2. __________________________
3. _________________________ 3. __________________________
Flexible personality at midlife
1. _________________________ 1. __________________________
2. _________________________ 2. __________________________
3. _________________________ 3. __________________________
High cognitive status of spouse
1. _________________________ 1. __________________________
2. _________________________ 2. __________________________
3. _________________________ 3. __________________________
Maintenance of high levels of perceptual processing speed
1. _________________________ 1. __________________________
2. _________________________ 2. __________________________
3. _________________________ 3. __________________________