If you wear headphones or watch TV while you exercise, you could
be missing out on one of the most valuable benefits of working
out: the opportunity to boost your brain health. That’s also
true if you stick to the same fitness routine until you can
perform it on New scientific evidence shows that physical
fitness is the key to staying mentally sharp as you age—but it’s
crucial to pay attention to what your body is doing, says
Michael Gonzalez-Wallace, author of Super Body, Super Brain and
and body fitness expert. “There’s lots of research showing that
at any age, physical movement boosts brain health and memory,
but to get the best cognitive results, you need to be mentally
focused and engaged during your workout,” reports Gonzales-
Wallace, who recommends exercises that use several muscles at
once, requiring precision and coordination. “Traditional
exercises, such as biceps curls, are boring because you only use
a very limited area of the brain, while more complex movements,
such as simultaneously raising you