1.Quit Smoking- not smoking is one of the first steps you can take to improve your brain health.Those who smoked between half and one packed a day had a 44 percent increased risk of developing dementia.

2.Protect your head- head injures increase the risk of impaired brain function.Avoid falls,wear helmet when biking or hiking,remove potential hazards from your path and use good lighting.

3.Get Social- Creating and nurturing connections with others keeps life fun and interesting, and has been linked to lower blood pressure, lower risk of dementia and longer life expectancy.

4.Feed your brain- with healthy nutritious food that stimulates brain function. Some good ones include: fruits,vegetables,fish and nuts.

5.Exercise- extend beyond the physical to our emotional and mental lives as well.

6.Get good sleep- our brains are very active, whether we are aware or asleep. When we sleep, our brains are consolidating the information that we’ve taken in and attempts to sort and store valuable knowledge.

7.Challenge your brain- Neuroscientists have suggested that challenging games such as crossword puzzles and Sudoku stimulates your cognitive abilities.

8.Limit Alcohol- excessive alcohol use is a major risk factor for dementia.

9.Meditate- meditation techniques vary widely,but they all have in common some form of focus on breathing and achieving calm.

10.Never Stop Learning- don’t stop learning. Read books, learn a new skill or learn a new language.