The real way to change your brain for the better (or at least slow its decline) is to sleep (5) and eat right (3) at regular intervals (7), avoid inactivity (1) (6), get regular sunlight (2) and exercise (4), be moderately (eu)stressed (challenge yourself mentally (9) and physically), avoid chronic excessive stress (10), fast (or just skip meals) occasionally (8) and have a rich social life (1).<p>Sources:<p>(1) <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.researchgate.net&#x2F;profile&#x2F;Karin_Volkers&#x2F;publication&#x2F;51145989_Impoverished_environment_cognition_aging_and_dementia&#x2F;links&#x2F;02e7e5285dcc50181f000000.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.researchgate.net&#x2F;profile&#x2F;Karin_Volkers&#x2F;publicati...</a> and <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nature.com&#x2F;nrn&#x2F;journal&#x2F;v13&#x2F;n3&#x2F;full&#x2F;nrn3151.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nature.com&#x2F;nrn&#x2F;journal&#x2F;v13&#x2F;n3&#x2F;full&#x2F;nrn3151.html</a><p>(2) <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov&#x2F;pmc&#x2F;articles&#x2F;PMC3448747&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov&#x2F;pmc&#x2F;articles&#x2F;PMC3448747&#x2F;</a><p>(3) <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;onlinelibrary.wiley.com&#x2F;doi&#x2F;10.1002&#x2F;ana.23944&#x2F;pdf" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;onlinelibrary.wiley.com&#x2F;doi&#x2F;10.1002&#x2F;ana.23944&#x2F;pdf</a><p>(4) <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;onlinelibrary.wiley.com&#x2F;doi&#x2F;10.1111&#x2F;j.1365-2796.2010.02281.x&#x2F;full" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;onlinelibrary.wiley.com&#x2F;doi&#x2F;10.1111&#x2F;j.1365-2796.2010....</a><p>(5) <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;journals.lww.com&#x2F;co-psychiatry&#x2F;Abstract&#x2F;2014&#x2F;11000&#x2F;Impact_of_sleep_on_the_risk_of_cognitive_decline.17.aspx" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;journals.lww.com&#x2F;co-psychiatry&#x2F;Abstract&#x2F;2014&#x2F;11000&#x2F;Im...</a><p>(6) <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;europepmc.org&#x2F;articles&#x2F;pmc3915771" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;europepmc.org&#x2F;articles&#x2F;pmc3915771</a><p>(7) <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.researchgate.net&#x2F;profile&#x2F;Kelly_Baron2&#x2F;publication&#x2F;262811353_Circadian_misalignment_and_health&#x2F;links&#x2F;542c06c10cf27e39fa92047e.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.researchgate.net&#x2F;profile&#x2F;Kelly_Baron2&#x2F;publicatio...</a> and <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.pnas.org&#x2F;content&#x2F;111&#x2F;47&#x2F;16647.long" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.pnas.org&#x2F;content&#x2F;111&#x2F;47&#x2F;16647.long</a><p>(8) <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov&#x2F;pmc&#x2F;articles&#x2F;PMC3206295&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov&#x2F;pmc&#x2F;articles&#x2F;PMC3206295&#x2F;</a><p>(9) <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov&#x2F;pmc&#x2F;articles&#x2F;PMC4227476&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov&#x2F;pmc&#x2F;articles&#x2F;PMC4227476&#x2F;</a> and <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;mggu-sh.ru&#x2F;ipgit&#x2F;Kupriyanov_Eustres.pdf" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;mggu-sh.ru&#x2F;ipgit&#x2F;Kupriyanov_Eustres.pdf</a><p>(10) <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov&#x2F;pmc&#x2F;articles&#x2F;PMC3410434&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov&#x2F;pmc&#x2F;articles&#x2F;PMC3410434&#x2F;</a><p>(edit to match points to sources)