Neural plasticity is truly about interrupting the old with the new.

In these daily, monthly and yearly increments, our brains develop the capacity to adapt and flex in the short, medium and long term. This boosts our cognitive capacity to adjust when confronted with other changes in our lives.

A small flex would be almost anything that requires you to engage your memory, attention, language, perception, problem-solving or decision-making in a way that encourages you to do something differently than you’ve done before.

None of these need to become new habits and, in fact, the point is that they aren’t something that continues day after day... See more

Cognitive decline and neurological diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer’s, are by-products of the litany of assaults our brains encounter throughout the course of our lives. Which is why protecting the brain in the first place plays such an important role in increasing your brainspan. Start by getting to know the enemies:

Ultra-processed food:... See more

Viruses and inflammation: If you were among the many millions of people who suffered from brain fog during or following a bout of COVID-19, you know how much a pathogen can impact your memory and ability to concentrate.

When researchers in the US reviewed the records of more than 6 million people during the first year of the pandemic, they saw clear... See more

Meanwhile, carbohydrates get absorbed faster, triggering inflammation and raising insulin levels – two big enemies of brain health because of how they cause brain cells to die and increase risk for Alzheimer’s.

Do you wake up in the same bed, in the same room, in the same home, in the same town? Do you shower in the same place, using the same soap, drying with the same towels?

If you begin your day with a coffee, do you use the same mug, is it brewed in the same machine, and do you drink it in the same spot as you do most other mornings, or get it from the... See more

Of course, stress is an element of life we can’t always control, and it’s the chronic, ongoing stress, not the occasional stress, that damages cognition. Meditation, yoga, improved sleep and other stress-reducing approaches, play an important mitigating role.

Monthly cognitive challenges

The key here is to vary not just the activity but the type of activity from month to month – and remember, the aim isn’t to completely master every new thing you try. It’s about expanding your cognitive experiences.

One month you could read a few books from a very different genre of literature than you’re used to.

Next you... See more

With just a few tweaks to your daily habits, sleep patterns and diet, you can take better care of your brain. You can have sharper thoughts, crystal-clear memories, increase your ability to learn new information and have the capacity to take better control of your moods and emotions.