Ben's Natural Health: What I Stopped Doing To Protect My Brain

What Keeps Me Mentally Sharp At 84 I've spent decades learning what truly supports a healthy mind. Today, I'm sharing one of the simplest habits that's made the biggest difference.

Hello there,

At 84, staying mentally sharp requires deliberate effort.

Luckily, I have spent the last few decades mastering some tips and tricks that keep me sharp. And the latest research is now catching up with something I have been saying for years.

That is, it is never too late.

Hello there,

At 84, staying mentally sharp requires deliberate effort.

Luckily, I have spent the last few decades mastering some tips and tricks that keep me sharp. And the latest research is now catching up with something I have been saying for years.

That is, it is never too late.

A three-year study of nearly 4,000 adults found that with the right activities and nutrition, brain health can be improved at every age, including among people in their 70s, 80s and 90s.

To be clear, what this research highlights is that cognitive decline is not an unavoidable consequence of getting older.

Rather, it is a consequence of poor nutrition and bad habits.

As I have said in previous emails, I am fiercely protective of my cognitive capacity. At 84, it's something you need to be proactive about.

It's why I take Mind & Memory every day but supplements are only part of my routine.

To be clear, what this research highlights is that cognitive decline is not an unavoidable consequence of getting older.

Rather, it is a consequence of poor nutrition and bad habits.

As I have said in previous emails, I am fiercely protective of my cognitive capacity. At 84, it's something you need to be proactive about.

It's why I take Mind & Memory every day but supplements are only part of my routine.

The brain also needs to be used properly.

One of the most helpful changes I have made in the last few years is returning to newspapers.

For a while, nearly all my information came through a laptop, podcasts and endless, engaging YouTube videos. Everything was faster, louder and attention-grabbing… but I realized that it wasn’t intellectually stimulating.

I was just passively listening or watching, consuming without thought or effort.

Reading a newspaper is different.

It forces the mind to slow down, concentrate and follow an argument from beginning to end.

If I had a secret tip to share, it would be that. Turn off the TV, log out of YouTube, walk down to the shops and get a newspaper.

Yes, it takes longer, but what is the rush?

Watching breaking news is unlikely to change anything. Very few of us are rushing into the situation room, negotiating trade deals or making geopolitical decisions. The morning newspaper is as up to date as any of us really need to be.

At 84, reading strengthens attention, comprehension and memory, whereas watching the news doesn’t.

So read more, think more and protect the brain that has carried every memory of your life.

Oh, and I also recommend you try Mind & Memory, a nootropic formulation that provides targeted nutritional support to keep your brain clear, focused and sharp.