There are many things you can do to keep your brain sharp, from eating certain foods to playing memory games. But there’s one daily practice for brain health that longevity doctor Dr. Avinish Reddy finds isn’t talked about enough.
“The thing that’s very overlooked, which I’ll always say, is exercise. Regular exercise reduces the risk of dementia,” he says.
“There are specific activities that lower your risk for Parkinson’s and dementia as well, including racket sports like table tennis and pickleball. Because they use hand-eye coordination.”
Dr. Reddy made these comments during a recent interview with CNBC.
Hand-eye coordination gets worse as people age because important areas of the brain can decline after the age of 60 without adequate exercise or nutrition. Having good hand-eye coordination is necessary to remain independent, since it’s important for activities like driving and grabbing a handrail, the publication noted.
Playing racket sports like tennis and ping pong can improve hand-eye coordination because “the speed of the moving ball is challenging,” occupational therapist Jennifer Packard told Harvard Health Publishing in 2021.
“Your brain has to manage that hand and arm not just where you can see it, but also where you can’t see it, as the ball flies by and you reach behind you or to the side.”
Reddy adds that it’s not just individual sports that can make a difference.
“Engaging in team sports and group fitness activities can not only help you stay active, but they also increase social connection,” he said.
“I see patients that are older, and if they get hurt, their first reason for wanting to get back exercising is because they’re like, ‘I want to go back and see my golf friends’ or ‘I want to go join my pickleball league again, to see my friends,'” he added.
