Focusing only on a single mental activity will not exercise all the cognitive domains needed to keep the brains agile. Furthermore, consistent and long-term mental stimulation appears to be the key to reducing risk of memory loss and dementia. If you can, also include activities that address areas for short-term and long-term memories, critical thinking, visual and spatial orientation, calculation and language. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses, about 15 million Americans had depression. While about 40 million American each year suffer from anxiety according to the Anxiety Disorder Association in America. Emotional brain training is actually a cognitive therapy which enables the brain to respond to stimulus, positively and healthily without triggering anxiety. Your brain is adapting to a new skill and the more you expose it to such activities the more chances you create in strengthening neural connections. Play is the universal language for the little ones. It can be used to improve the brain s network of communication with other parts of the body. The simple act of manipulating clay dough can do wonders for your child s hand-brain coordination. Hall from the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Einstein College of Medicine, New York; engaging in leisurely brain exercises like reading, writing and card playing could reduce memory decline. In their study, they observed 488 respondents ranging from 75 to 85 years old. The study lasted for five years and the participants have no form of dementia at the beginning of the research. Make sure that a brain training program would be enjoyable for you. The last thing you need is a training that would make you more tired or make children less interested in learning. Besides brain training should not be like another day in a classroom or office. When buying a brain training program, make sure to get all the necessary sequences or parts of the training. Fruit, whole grain, veggies, nuts, meat, and the likes should be amply present on your plate come eating time. Part of the whole training thing is starting the day right. Pack your breakfast with beans. According to studies these tiny wonders can give your cognitive skills a huge lift. Make sure you and the kids move away from those table junks so that tasks are completed with ease.