10 Small Things Neurologists Wish You'd Do for Your Brain Easy everyday habits can help keep you sharp.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/well/mind/brain-health-simple-tips.html


10 Small Things Neurologists Wish You’d Do for Your Brain
Easy everyday habits can help keep you sharp. And it’s never too late to start them.




Small tweaks to your daily routine can go a long way toward protecting your body’s control center and preventing cognitive decline down the road. In fact, scientists believe that as many as 45 percent of dementia cases could be delayed or prevented with help from some simple, sometimes surprising, changes in behavior.



We asked eight neurologists and neuroscientists to share their best tips.

1. Wear a helmet.


2. Put in earplugs when you’re mowing the lawn.

3. Get your eyes checked.


4. Take a walk, and swap your chair for a stool.
Neurologists know that exercise benefits the brain by increasing blood flow and ferrying oxygen to it. Even a small dose of daily exercise — like walking half a mile — can bring those rewards, said Dr. Cyrus Raji, an associate professor of radiology at Washington University School of Medicine.

Minimizing the amount of time you spend sitting or being inactive can also deliver some of those benefits, said Dr. Kevin Bickart, an assistant professor of behavioral and sports neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Standing up or walking around every 20 minutes or so can help; so can using a seat that forces you to engage your core. “Minimize fully supported seats,” Dr. Bickart said. “Use stools, boxes, benches or the floor when possible.”

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5. Manage your cholesterol.

6. Floss every day.

7. Join a book club.

8. Wear a mask on smoggy or smoky days.

9. Watch your neck.

10. Sleep well.