Here are some recommendations to keep the physical plant going strong:

Stay active. Regular physical activity helps to maintain and improve memory, maintain and improve mental ability and prevent dementia.

Check your numbers. Keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels low. A healthy blood pressure (below 120/80) helps reduce the risk of stroke, which may lead to dementia and Alzheimer's disease. An excess of cholesterol slows down and can block blood flow to the brain, contributing to stroke and dementia. In one study, those who had high cholesterol and high blood pressure had six times the risk of dementia.

Eat your vegetables. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains and nonfat dairy products provides ample nutrition for the brain.

Add folate. This B vitamin helps slow cognitive decline in older people. Good sources of folate, aka folic acid, include fortified breakfast cereals, dark-green, leafy vegetables, asparagus, strawberries and beans.

Get E and C. Studies suggest that, when taken together, these vitamins may lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin E is 15 milligrams per day from foods such as nuts, vegetable oils, seeds, wheat germ, spinach and other dark-green, leafy vegetables. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin C is 75 milligrams per day for women and 90 milligrams for men. Food sources include oranges, grapefruits, asparagus, brussels sprouts, broccoli, bell peppers, collard greens, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, potatoes, spinach and turnip greens.

- Monitor medication use. Some memory loss and dementia can be traced to harmful drug combinations or inappropriate drug use.

- Drink moderately. Alcohol damages brain function. According to a University of North Carolina study, brain cells are restored when people abstain from excessive alcohol consumption. Limit yourself to no more than one drink a day if you are over 65. (One drink translates to 12 ounces of beer, 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or 5 ounces of wine.)

- Stop smoking. It causes long-term changes in the chemical function of the brain, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

- Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity in middle age has been linked to development of dementia in later life. Being underweight also carries risks such as poor memory.

- Take care of your teeth. Gum disease is linked to Alzheimer's disease and heart disease. Brush and floss daily and see a dentist regularly.

- Exercise the mind. Challenge yourself intellectually to stimulate new areas of your brain and grow more brain connections. Solve a puzzle, learn a new musical instrument, play a board or card game or write a short story.

- Reduce stress. The hormones our bodies release when we are under stress may shrink the brain, affecting memory and learning.

- Protect your head. Head injuries affect brain function.

- Stay connected. Join a book club or a volunteer group and interact with the world around you.

Source: Geriatric Mental Health Foundation, National Alzheimer's Association

Helping your memory

Can't find your car keys? Don't know where you put your reading glasses?

Try these tips to keep yourself from going crazy.

- Write it down. Don't expect to remember everything; use lists, calendars, reminders and other memory aids. Jot down appointments on your calendar, and keep a list of chores in your pocket.

- Develop routines. Take medicines the same time every day. Leave your keys in the same place.

- Visualize. Visual memory tends to be better than auditory memory. That is, it's easier to remember what we see than what we hear. Using both at the same time will enhance memory. For example, if you need to pick up fruit at the grocery store, picture blueberries in the produce aisle.

- Pay greater attention. Increasing attention improves learning and memory. When learning something new, limit the distractions (turn off the TV and choose a quiet room) and focus your attention.

- Take more time. Allow yourself additional time, and have patience.

Source: Geriatric Mental Health Foundation

Normal or not normal?

As we age, simple tasks can become increasingly challenging. Here's a little help to determine what's a typical sign of aging vs. the beginning stage of something more serious.

Memory loss

What's normal? Forgetting names or appointments occasionally.

What's not? Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. A person begins to forget more often and is unable to recall the information later.

Difficulty with familiar tasks

What's normal? Occasionally forgetting why you came into a room or what you planned to say.

What's not? Finding it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. People with dementia may lose track of the steps to prepare a meal, place a telephone call or play a game.Problems with language

What's normal? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

What's not? Forgetting simple words like "toothbrush." People with Alzheimer's may substitute descriptions, such as "that thing for my mouth," making speech or writing hard to understand.

Disorientation to time, place

What's normal? Forgetting the day of the week or where you were going.

What's not? People with Alzheimer's disease can become lost in their own neighborhoods, forget where they are and how they got there and not know how to get back home.

Misplacing things

What's normal? Misplacing keys or a wallet temporarily.

What's not? A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places -- an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl, for example.

Source: Alzheimer's Association of Georgia