Health: Three timely tips for aging well

It's no surprise that most of us don't look forward to aging.

When we aren't ruminating about getting older we lament about the loss of our youth.

Have no fear — there is good news coming out of research on aging, which talks about building cognitive reserve as an insulator to the effects of aging.

Dr. David Bennett, who directs the Alzheimer's Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, describes "something scientists call "cognitive reserve" — extra brain capacity. It compensates for whatever damage is accumulating."

Dr. Bennett goes on to say, "Having a purpose in life, conscientiousness, social networks, stimulating activities — all these things seem to be protective in terms of how your brain expresses whatever pathology it's accumulating."

I think this is great news because these variables are all things that we can work to develop.

Listen to NPR's full story on senior moments and cognitive reserve here:

Read the full NPR story here.

What are you doing to improve your cognitive reserve?

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Chris is