8. Be careful with medicines and limit alcohol

Drugs and alcohol can affect how brain cells communicate with one another. Drugs and alcohol also can have an effect on your brain's ability to react, plan, solve problems and control impulses. Follow the directions on medicines carefully. That includes medicines that you get without a prescription.

If you choose to drink alcohol, limit how often you drink and keep the amount small. Drinking too much raises your risk of a fall and can cause memory problems. It also can make some medical conditions that affect the brain, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, worse. For overall health, drink one or fewer drinks a day. Do not drink every day. The less you drink, the better.