AARP released results of a 2025 survey among American adults ages 50-plus to explore engagement in brain-healthy behaviors that line up with six pillars of the organization’s “Staying Sharp” program.
- Be social
- Engage your brain
- Manage stress
- On-going exercise
- Restorative sleep
- Eat right
The survey and report, titled “Engaging in Brain-Healthy Behaviors: Motivators and Barriers for Adults Over 50” finds more than half of adults have at least one barrier to getting the recommended amount of sleep (65%) and exercise (62%) along with healthy eating (61%) and socializing (52%). About one-third cite at least one barrier to engaging in mentally stimulating activities and managing stress (36% each). Among respondents, for four of the six pillars of brain health, more women than men said the impact of these activities on brain health is significant. Particularly notable is the 14-percentage-point difference related to socializing with friends or family members and the 13-percentage-point difference related to healthy eating.
Lack of knowledge was cited as a barrier to several of the activities, including healthy eating, exercise, engaging in mentally stimulating activities, and stress management. Most American adults age 50-plus (75 percent) say they would be likely to include brain-healthy behaviors in their daily routines if they had how-to instructions.
More information and resources from the AARP report are available here.