Why do some people, as they age, “keep their smarts”—that is, they maintain their cognitive functions well—and others do not? A number of longitudinal studies indicate that the successful agers share four traits:
They are more mentally active.
They are more physically active.
They maintain a sense of their social engagement. In other words, they see themselves as still having roles to play in life—in their families, communities, or even in continuing employment.
They pay attention to controlling the risk factors for disease of the heart and brain. They may stop smoking, control their blood pressure, keep cholesterol within normal limits by diet or medications, and/or recognize and treat diabetes.
Moreover, it appears that these factors reinforce one another: the more of them people follow, the better.
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