How to Exercise Your Brain
The types of cognitive challenge that actually support brain longevity
A lot of people think their daily sudoku or crossword is enough to protect their brain.
And these activities can help.
But the science suggests there is far more to it.
Most “brain training” approaches treat the brain like it’s a muscle you can improve with an app. The issue is that people usually just get better at the specific game itself - not necessarily cognition more broadly.
Research increasingly suggests that long-term brain health is shaped less by doing occasional “brain games” and more by living a mentally stimulating and varied life.
One that challenges the brain consistently, over years, through the right kinds of mental, physical, and social activity.
We’re in Week 4 of the Brain Longevity Mini-Series - exploring the strategies that matter most for long-term brain health. So far we’ve covered How to Build a Brain-Protective Diet, and How to Exercise for Brain Longevity.
Join the paid community to unlock the full series.
Today, we’ll break down:
What cognitive challenge actually does to your brain - cognitive reserve and “cognitive autopilot” explained
The evidence behind the most effective forms of cognitive challenge - accessible to all
How to build a cognitively enriched lifestyle aligned with the latest brain aging research