FORTUNE – These people in their 70s say they feel mentally sharp thanks to some key habits, many of which they’ve been doing for decades. And neuroscientists say these seniors’ tactics actually hold a lot of weight in helping to ward off memory loss and cognition issues down the line.
Joel Slaven, a 78-year-old working dentist from Los Angeles, says exercise has been a part of his life for many years. And yes, movement not only makes your muscles stronger, but your brain, too.
“I’ve been a long-distance cyclist for 35 years,” says Slaven. “I also do vigorous walking and use a rowing machine while using light wrist weights. A lot of what I’ve read about brain activity seems to connect to fitness.”
He’s right: Exercise is so important to cognitive health because it keeps the heart and blood vessels healthy, explains Raphi Wald, Psy.D., neuropsychologist at the Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Baptist Health’s Boca Raton Regional Hospital.
“The healthier [your heart and blood vessels] are, the better they stay at nurturing the brain with the oxygen and nutrition it needs to thrive,” says Wald.
Being active doesn’t just help prevent cognitive disease, but exercise also helps combat typical age-related brain damage too, says Dr. Joel Salinas, a neurologist specializing in dementia, clinical assistant professor in NYU Langone’s department of neurology and chief medical officer at Isaac Health, an online memory clinic.
Tiny paper cut-like scars are often found on imaging, such as an MRI, of most aging brains (more so for those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or who smoke) indicating damage.
However, “the more active you are throughout your life, the less likely you are to develop those kinds of changes in the brain,” says Salinas.
Slaven often works out with his wife or daughter as he says “my close family relationships make me very happy,” but the brain health benefits go even deeper than anecdotal joy … ”
