3. Take care of your health

Some medical conditions can raise the risk of developing issues with thinking and memory. They also may raise the risk of having a stroke, which can damage blood vessels in the brain. Among the most common of these conditions are diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. If you have ongoing medical concerns, follow your healthcare professional's directions on how best to treat and manage them. If you don't have these conditions, ask your healthcare team what you can do to prevent them.