If you’re a man, you might want to watch your mind. Compared with women, you’re more likely to see it drift away with the years.
We’re not talking about dementia, just normal aging. As the years climb, the ability to memorize, pay close attention and learn new things declines. Slowing that decline means healthier aging.
To uncover gender differences, researchers at the National Institute of Aging analyzed data on more than 2,000 men and women over age 50 who were followed for up to nine years. None had any cognitive impairment either at the beginning or the end of the study.
Age took its toll, for sure—but it took a greater toll on men, who got worse faster on a host of cognitive measures. Even spatial skills (such as doing a jigsaw puzzle or reading a map), at which men excel compared with women, declined faster in men than in women in this study.
So if you’re a man, you’ll want to work a little extra to keep your brain in shape. Of course, slowing normal age-related cognitive decline is a healthy goal for everyone. Fortunately, these tips work for both genders…