Learn New Skills if You Want to Boost Your Memory as You Get Older

Learning new and actual skills may be a more effective way of boosting one's memory instead of trying to solve puzzles, a new study suggests.

The new study published in Psychological Science shows the engaging in brain-testing activities like puzzles may no longer be enough to save off mental decline no matter how frequent you do it. Researchers involved in the study tested 221 people who were aged 60 to 90 and were grouped together. One group learned a new skill like taking photographs, quilting or both. These tasks were predetermined by the researchers because they stimulate active engagement, relied on long-term and working memory as well as other cognitive processes, according to CBS News.

A second group was asked to engage in mentally-stimulating activities that they were already used to doing like solving puzzles and listening to classical music. The third group was asked to engage in social activities which included field trips and other forms of entertainment. Researchers found that those who learned something new or those who were part of the first group had more improvements in their memory and brain activities compared to the other two groups.

"It seems it is not enough just to get out and do something--it is important to get out and do something that is unfamiliar and mentally challenging, and that provides broad stimulation mentally and socially. When you're inside your comfort zone you may be outside of the enhancement zone," Denise Park, co-director for the Center for Vital Longevity, said.

The researchers also stressed the importance of caring for our bodies and that engaging in new activities and other challenges can indeed be beneficial to one's overall health, according to WWLP. However, Park also stressed that, The findings suggest that engagement alone is not enough," says Park. "The three learning groups were pushed very hard to keep learning more and mastering more tasks and skills. Only the groups that were confronted with continuous and prolonged mental challenge improved", she added.