Tom Murphy
RedwoodAge.com

Ever been to a neurobics class?  Maybe you did and didn't know it. It may have been an engaging dinner conversation, a book you couldn't put down, a crossword puzzle that drove you batty, or just trying to get all the names straight at a dinner party.

Neurobics is the new buzzword for mental workouts that researchers say may stave off dementia - even the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease - as you age. Just as a nice jog or bike ride might help your heart, some cerebral calisthenics can help keep your brain in shape.

This is serious stuff. Researchers say, at current rates, about one in eight boomers will develop Alzheimer's - a fatal affliction in which brain cells become clogged and unable to transmit signals to other parts of the body. The risk is especially high for minority groups, notably Hispanics are are making up an increasing share of the US population.

Alzheimer's is often misdiagnosed, or the symptoms are accepted as a natural part of aging. But early detection can help slow the disease, and mental exercise has been shown to help delay even the symptoms.

To mark Alzheimer's awareness month, Dakim - a Santa Monica, Calif. company that develops brain fitness programs - offered 10 tips about the right way to exercise those little gray cells.

Keep Growing. Researchers know that adults can grow new brain cells, reversing the belief that brainpower is always lost in the aging process.

Create a Reserve. You can save neurons the same way you can save money. Such a "cognitive reserve" can help replace neurons as they burn out like holiday lights. An analysis in the PLoS One Journal suggested a 5 percent increase in the reserve can prevent one-third of Alzheimer's cases.

Work It Out! The Bronx Aging study found elders (75-85) who read, wrote, worked puzzles, made music and played games were 63 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who didn't.

Do Push-ups.  Even if you get Alzheimer's, you may be able to keep it in check the way Richard Wetherill did. The university lecturer became concerned when he could only see five chess moves in advance instead of eight. After he died, an autopsy found advanced Alzheimer's disease, suggesting he had been keeping the condition in check by using his noodle.

Don't Be Wimpy. Short-term workouts won't do it. Long-term stimulation is important to reduce risks from memory loss and dementia.

Enjoy Yourself! Just like exercise, you won't stick to workouts that are boring or too hard. So find activities you enjoy when picking a brain fitness program.

Break Your Routine. With physical exercise, you need to do a little cross-training - perhaps some weights, running and swimming. Same thing with mental workouts. You should combine activities that address short- and long-term memory, critical thinking, spatial relations, calculations and language.

Learn New Tricks. Try something new that you can't do now. Challenge your brain to learn a new language. Take saxophone lessons. Learn to use an iPhone. You'll build new circuits between your neurons.

Expect Improvement.  Some people have shown breakthroughs after exercise. One woman who hadn't spoken for a year resumed speaking after doing an exercise that contained piano music, saying, "I wish I had learned to play the piano when I was a little girl."

Hit the Gym. Physical exercise through cariovascular and strength training sends more blood to the brain, bringing in needed nutrients and oxygen. So aerobics and neurobics are related afterall.