A sharper mind IN 7 DAYS

These easy tweaks will help supercharge your memory and beat foggy thinking-fast

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Always forgetting where you put your keys? Struggle to find the word that's on the tip of your tongue? Join the club! Our brain is at its peak at around the age of 25, after which cognitive decline kicks in - but the good news is there are ways to stay mentally sharp. 'The brain is just like any other body part; it needs to be exercised to stay fit, strong and functioning effectively,' says neuroradiologist Dr Emer MacSweeney*. Try these simple tips.

DAY 1

Explore somewhere new

But use an old-fashioned map to find your way - not relying on your satnav or directions on your phone. 'Sometimes ordinary activities can have extraordinary effects on brain health,' says Dr Steve Burgess. 'The protective effect that driving appears to have against dementia reminds us that our brains benefit from regular, practical challenges like navigation and spatial processing.' Non-driver? Be the map-reader, take new walking routes to familiar destinations, or engage in spatial reasoning games like mazes to get the same benefits.

DAY 2

Take a gentle jog