Cornell researchers recently found that quercetin, an antioxidant in apples, may protect the brain from the kinds of damage seen in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. All varieties contain healthy amounts of this and other antioxidants, according to study author Chang Y. Lee, PhD, chairman of the department of Food Science and Technology at Cornell University. Eat the peel; it’s where the compound is most concentrated. -Nicci Micci

A calm, focused mind also improves memory and concentration. So much of forgetfulness has to do with multitasking, with your mind scattered in a million directions. "When you can’t find your keys or remember a name, you have to ask yourself, how many things are you trying to pay attention to at once?" says Leslee Kagan, of the Mind/Body Medical Institute. Meditation teaches you to be mindful in the present moment, letting go of all those spiraling thoughts about the past, future, office politics, and the grocery list, and giving your mind and memory an opportunity to come into focus.

"Some games also appear to help you multitask because they tap into several different cognitive domains at once," says Deborah E. Barnes, PhD, 41, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. "I like crossword puzzles and Sudoku, although they haven’t been formally tested for these benefits in a research setting. Crosswords require memory of past events and words as well as visual-spatial function. Sudoku requires these functions plus logic. Some researchers believe that consistently playing these games may build up what’s known as cognitive reserve. One example of how this might work: Your brain develops alternative connections between neurons, so when some begin to malfunction, you have other connections in place to pick up the slack. This means even if dementia is developing, it takes longer for symptoms to show up."

"Although bridge hasn’t been studied, I like it because it has all the components of a major brain booster," says Deborah E. Barnes, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. "It places you in a social setting and requires you to communicate bids with your partner, employing language skills; to remember which cards have been played, using short-term memory; and to strategize your next move, using judgment and expert knowledge. Chess, Scrabble, and even the card game Concentration require some combination of strategy, memory, and reasoning as well and thus may have benefits that can help stave off the symptoms of mental aging."

Listening to music triggers the release of the feel-good brain chemical dopamine, which in turn promotes storage of memories. "We’re better able to record memories when we’re in a positive frame of mind," explains British psychologist Catriona Morrison, who teaches at the University of Leeds. It’s as if music gives you extra glue to cement data into your brain. You can use music to process new information more deeply. "You could train yourself by associating whatever you want to remember-your new PIN, say-with a particular piece of music," Morrison says. Repeat the number while listening to something you enjoy. And make it an instrumental selection, Morrison says: "Words are too distracting." -Elizabeth Devita-Raeburn

Go to a party. If you’re routinely depressed or isolated, you’ll be more likely to develop dementia, perhaps because you don’t get enough of the mental stimulation that comes from conversation and social activities. -Michael Dolan