You swear you put your keys on the table near the front door. Or maybe it was in your coat pocket or junk drawer. But they aren’t there. And you don’t know where else they could be. Sound familiar?

Memory blips like these are often just a normal part of aging. But you can strengthen your memory by challenging it every day. Here are four fun ways you can boost your brain power.

1. Do jigsaw puzzles

Solving puzzles regularly can help keep your mind sharp. Research shows that working on jigsaw puzzles can, over time, improve a whole host of cognitive skills, including mental speed, flexibility, reasoning and memory.*

Need a nurse?

Call our 24/7 Nurse Line at
1-855-493-7019 (TTY: 711) to speak with a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If it’s an emergency, dial 911.

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2. Stay social

Join a book club, go to local events, or spend time with friends or family. Having conversations and positive interactions with others, especially those you can rely on for emotional support, can help boost brain health.*

3. Get creative

Try painting, drawing or coloring in an adult coloring book. Making art can help keep your brain functioning well. And bonus: Getting creative can also help you feel happier.*

Have a health question that can’t wait for your next checkup?

Call the 24-Hour Nurse Line at 1-855-493-7019 (TTY: 711) to speak with a registered nurse. If you need urgent or emergency care, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room. 

4. Quiz yourself

Think of a few personal questions. Then spend a few minutes trying to come up with the answers. A few examples you can try:

• What’s your childhood phone number?
   
• When are your grandchildren’s or loved ones’ birthdays?
   
• How many actors can you name from your favorite movie?
   
• What are the lyrics to a hit song from your high school years?
   

Due for a checkup?

Schedule your annual wellness exam today with your primary care provider (PCP). They can provide certain screenings and other preventive care services covered by your Allina Health I Aetna plan. Go to your plan web page for more information about exams. You can access your plan web page with the URL or QR code on your member ID card. Or call Member Services at 1-833-570-6671 (TTY: 711) between 8 AM and 8 PM, 7 days a week.
 

*FOR PUZZLES AND MEMORY SOURCE: Fissler P, Küster OC, Laptinskaya D, et al. Jigsaw puzzling taps multiple cognitive abilities and is a potential protective factor for cognitive aging. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. October 1, 2018. Accessed May 9, 2024.

*FOR SOCIAL SUPPORT AND BRAIN HEALTH SOURCE: Costa-Cordella S, Arevalo-Romero C, Parada F, et al. Social support and cognition: a systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology. February 23, 2021. Accessed May 9, 2024.

*FOR CREATIVITY AND MOOD BOOST SOURCE: Galassi F, Merizzi A, D’Amen B, et al. Creativity and art therapies to promote healthy aging: a scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology. September 26, 2022. Accessed May 9, 2024.
 

For language services, please call the number on your member ID card and request an operator. For other language services: Español | 中⽂ | Tiếng Việt | 한국어 | Tagalog | Pусский | ةيبرعلا| | Kreyòl | Français | Polski | Português | Italiano | Deutsch | ⽇本語 | فارسی | Other languages…      

See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by service area. Participating health care providers are independent contractors and are neither agents nor employees of Allina Health I Aetna. The availability of any particular provider cannot be guaranteed, and provider network composition is subject to change. For mail-order, you can get prescription drugs shipped to your home through the network mail-order delivery program. Typically, mail-order drugs arrive within 14 days. You can call the Member Services number on your member ID card if you do not receive your mail-order drugs within this timeframe. Members may have the option to sign-up for automated mail-order delivery.

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