There''s no better or enjoyable ways to protect your mind and memory as you age than to take advantage of the many simpler, safer brain-teasers I often share with you, none of which involve taking dangerous prescription drugs, and the editors at JAMA also agree.

Memory impairment is a major challenge for many of my patients, especially after the age of 40. Keeping your mind active, however, is only one of many things you can do to prevent memory problems and the neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging, such as Alzheimer''s.

There are other simple guidelines for sharply reducing your Alzheimer''s risks that I would strongly encourage you to consider:

• Have a consistent source of high quality omega-3 fats like fish or krill oil
• Eat your vegetables.
• Get active with an exercise program.
• Reduce your exposure to heavy metals like aluminum.
• Optimize your diet, and consider applying nutritional typing principles.

Sugar is also one of the main culprits linked to memory loss. Studies have proven that people with the inability to rapidly bring down elevated sugar levels are more likely to experience memory loss. So if you are healthy you can occasionally indulge but consistent use of sugar will definitely impair your memory over time.

Reader Tom from Grandview, Ohio shares a story on Vital Votes:

"Read, work crossword puzzles, solve problems, play trivia games.

"There are many ways to exercise the grey matter in both hemispheres of the brain. You don''t need to work up a mental sweat for hours on end, just engage your brain in 20 minute exercises several times throughout the day. You''ll be amazed at how much your mental sharpness will improve, and at how quickly this happens.

"I have always enjoyed working crossword puzzles, but always did them in a lackadaisical manner, answering the obvious clues and not caring whether or not I ever finished a puzzle. Then several years ago I read an article in the Columbus Dispatch about a particular group of nun''s at a local convent.

"It seems that almost all of them experienced longevity though it was not necessarily attributed to their individual gene pools. What was most impressive that they lived long, yet did so while retaining a very sharp mind until eventually answering the Lord''s call to come ''home.'' Most lived well into their 90''s and a great number made it well into their 100''s.

"A group of geriatric MD''s looked into it for answers as to why these women were living long healthy lives, both physically and mentally. Of course their spiritual devotion to God and humanity was typically considered to be a big part of that reason.

"However, the one thing that ran consistent in their lifestyle was the fact that in addition to daily prayer they read voraciously, and that they worked crossword puzzles competitively every single day! They would photocopy  the daily newspaper puzzles, and distribute them to every member of the convent. They would see who would finish first, with few or no  mistakes."

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