Keeping mentally active by Brenda Patoine

How the brain ages—and why some people’s brains hold up better than others—is a complex puzzle involving an interplay of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Scientists have spent decades tracking people’s activities and habits as they age to determine what distinguishes people who retain good mental faculties from those who fare less well. Many of these studies are ongoing, so we can expect new clues to be revealed as researchers learn more.