Cognitive engagement means keeping your brain thinking and working hard. When you use your brain in new and challenging ways, new connections are built between brain cells. The more connections it has, the more nimble your brain is. This can protect your brain against the effects of injury or brain disease, and possibly help lower the risk of dementia.

What can you do to challenge your mind?

Many types of activities are cognitively engaging — including challenging games and learning new skills. The activities you choose to challenge your mind should be interesting or fun to you so you continue to learn and do them.

Try learning a new skill or language, adopting a new hobby or taking a class on something you don't know a lot about. You could learn how to play an instrument, try an art form or learn to play a strategy game. Activities challenge people differently. The key is to keep your brain working hard. Once an activity becomes easy, such as figuring out the strategy to help you solve a puzzle, it's time to add something new. Keeping your mind challenged may have short- and long-term benefits for your brain, so stay curious.

Stay in school

Formal education — years of school in a classroom-based setting taught by professionally trained teachers — helps protect brain health. People with more years of formal education are at a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's or other dementia. As children, we are constantly learning and building a "cognitive reserve," or bank that we carry with us into older age. Even after our years of formal education are over, it’s important to continue challenging your mind and learning throughout life. You can take classes at a local library or college, study a new language, find an online class that interests you or learn a new skill or hobby like art.

More ways to protect brain health

• Other habits that can support these areas of health, like eating a brain-healthy diet and getting physical exercise, can also protect brain health.
• Learn more about other 10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain.
• Take the (re)think your brain 6-Step Challenge.