Your brain's aging and a new report urges ways to stay sharp

WASHINGTON (AP) — The brain ages like the rest of a body, and the Institute of Medicine says the best way to keep mentally sharp is to stay physically active.

The group examined "cognitive aging," natural changes in mental functioning as we get older. It's not a disease like Alzheimer's — and it's not always bad: Wisdom can come with age.

But Tuesday's report warns that even subtle changes — processing information more slowly, or difficulty multitasking — can make seniors more vulnerable to financial fraud, driving problems or other difficulties in a technology-driven world.

The advice: Manage high blood pressure and diabetes. Common medications can fog the brain — ask your doctor. Remember there's no evidence that dietary supplements boost brain power. And stay socially and intellectually active.

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