To boost your brain power, do tai chi, so suggests a study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, which included 120 healthy older people in China. Those who practiced this “moving meditation” technique three times a week for 40 weeks showed increases in brain volume, as seen on MRI, as well as improvements on several tests of memory and learning, compared to those not doing the exercise who had normal age-related brain shrinkage. Previous research has shown that aerobic activity is good for the brain, but this study suggests that a more gentle form of exercise is also beneficial. Another benefit of tai chi: it improves balance and decreases the risk of falls.

The International Taoist Tai Chi Society (Taoist.org) can help you find instructors and classes in your area.

December 2012 University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter