How to keep your brain nimble

Exactly how the brain works continues to be a mystery. But you can help to preserve its power throughout your life by making the right choices. Here's how to live long and live smart.

* Exercise. Physical activity increases blood flow, supplying the brain cells with more oxygen. One Swedish study shows that the fitter of any two twins was likely to do better on cognitive tests. In his book, Saving Your Brain (Bantam), Dr. Jeffrey Victoroff recommends 20 minutes of vigorous exercise four times a week.

* Eat colorful foods. Dr. James A. Joseph, author of The Color Code (Hyperion) says the antioxidant power of fruits and vegetables is contained in their natural dyes. They contain a variety of phytochemicals. Go for a wide assortment of colors.

* Pick high-powered produce. Vegetables like prunes, raisins, kale, spinach, blueberries, and other berries are best at raising antioxidant levels. Prunes and raisins are high on the list partly because nutrition is concentrated in dried fruits. When researchers at Tufts University gave spinach or blueberry extracts to elderly lab animals, their cognitive and motor functioning return to that of much younger animals.

* Take natural vitamin E. It is probably the cheapest, most painless, and best researched way to protect your brain says Victoroff. Studies show that older people with the highest cognitive function were those who had taken vitamin E regularly. They had more free-flowing carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain.

Other wise moves include controlling cholesterol levels and keeping your brain working with such activities as reading, playing cards, and learning new skills.

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