Staying active becomes increasingly important as you grow older. And not just physically, but mentally, too. Having a hobby – something enjoyable and challenging like playing card games with friends – is an excellent way to keep your mind sharp. Here are four hobbies to boost your brain.

1. Play an instrument

It’s been shown that playing a musical instrument or singing in a group positively impacts our mental health and wellbeing as we grow older, especially as we move into retirement. One study found that playing a musical instrument protects us from cognitive decline, while another found evidence to suggest that it may safeguard against dementia, too. The really good news? Research shows that it’s never too late to start playing and enjoying the benefits that music has to offer.

2. Learn a new language

Research has confirmed that learning a new language protects the adult brain against the effects of aging. One study, for example, showed that bilingual patients developed dementia four-and-a-half years later than those who spoke one language, while scans have shown that the brains of elderly bilingual adults work more efficiently than those of their unilingual peers. Ready to sign up for a foreign language course? Bon chance!

3. Keep reading

Dr Seuss famously said, in I Can Read with My Eyes Shut, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” What he probably didn’t know when the book was published in 1978 is that reading also has a hugely positive effect on the brain. Not only does it create new neural pathways, it exercises those areas of the brain responsible for problem-solving. A study published online in the American Academy of Neurology journal in 2013 also found evidence to suggest that reading (as well as writing and other brain-stimulating activities) at any age helps to protect memory.

4. Practise yoga

In 2017, a study published in International Psychogeriatrics examined the effects of yoga versus traditional memory training on adults over 55 with mild cognitive impairment. The result? Yoga came out tops. What’s more, it also helped to improve symptoms of depression and increased participants’ ability to adapt to difficult situations. And let’s not forget that all those Downward Facing Dog and Tree poses will keep your body in great shape too!

Plan a social retirement

Evergreen Lifestyle Villages is the perfect environment to enjoy your hobbies – or find new ones. Each village has a purpose-built Lifestyle Centre where social clubs and special-interest groups meet regularly, to enjoy movies and card games, listen to music, and discuss everything from books to bird-watching.