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Brain quiz: How well do you know your brain?

Think you know what keeps you sharp in later life? 

Professor Alan Gow from Heriot-Watt University, who's one of the researchers working with Age UK, asked more than 3,000 people across the UK the following questions. How do your answers compare? Let's find out...

1. Which thinking skill is the first to start to decline with age?

A. Ability with numbers

Nope, your number skills aren't the first to decline. 

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B. Ability to remember things

No, it's not your memory (though most people asked thought that would be the first thinking skill to decline with age). 

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C. Speed of thinking

CORRECT! It's speed of thinking. But most people surveyed thought it was memory. 

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D. Problem-solving skills

Good guess but no - it's not your problem-solving skills. 

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2. What is the earliest age that some thinking skills start to decline?

A. Your 20s

CORRECT! Your thinking speed actually starts to decline in your 20s. But some thinking skills can last your lifetime.

Find out more

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B. Your 30s

No, it's not your 30s. Have another guess. 

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C. Your 40s

It's not your 40s...try again?

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D. Your 50s

It's not your 50s, though if you're currently in your 40s you're in good company for thinking this. Most people in their 40s surveyed thought thinking skills started to decline in your 50s. 

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E. Your 60s

No, it isn't your 60s. 

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3. Which thinking skills tend not to decline very much as we age?

A. Ability to pay attention

No, it's not your ability to pay attention. 

Hey...are you still with us? 

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B. Knowledge, wisdom and vocabulary

CORRECT! And that's what most survey respondents thought too. You're all so wise.

Find out more

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C. Problem-solving skills

Nope, it's not your problem-solving skills.

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D. Ability to make decisions

Guess again, it's not your ability to make decisions. 

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4. How likely are changes in your thinking skills a sign of something serious, like dementia?

A. Not very likely

CORRECT! While changes like our memory getting a bit worse or our problem-solving skills slowing down can be worrying, they're not necessarily a sign that something's wrong. 

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B. Quite likely

No, have another guess. 

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C. Very likely

Actually no, it's not very likely that changes in our thinking skills are a sign of something serious. 

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5. How responsible are our genes for changes in our thinking skills?

A. It's all in your genes

No, that's not the correct answer. Lifestyle has a part to play too. 

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B. About 75% genes, 25% lifestyle

No, that's not the correct answer. Try again. 

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C. About 50/50

Most survey respondents thought this was the answer, but it's not! 

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D. About 25% genes, 75% lifestyle

CORRECT! Our genes are responsible for about a quarter of the changes we experience in our thinking skills as we age. The rest is down to lifestyle. 

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E. It's all down to lifestyle

Nope, genes have a part to play too. 

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6. Are there things you can do to maintain or improve your thinking skills as you get older?

A. Yes

CORRECT! 90% of the people surveyed thought so too.

Find out how you can maintain or improve your thinking skills in later life

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B. No

Wrong. There are things you can do to maintain and improve your thinking skills as you get older. Find out more.

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7. Do you know how to keep your brain healthy?

A. Yes

Fantastic! Though it never hurts to brush up on some of the things we can do to keep our brains healthy.

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B. No

That's ok, we can help! Have a look at what you can do to keep your brain healthy. 

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8. What's the most important thing you can do to maintain or improve your thinking skills as your grow older?

A. Challenging your brain with puzzles

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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B. Exercise

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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C. Taking vitamins or supplements

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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D. Eating a healthy diet

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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E. Getting enough sleep

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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F. Managing stress

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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G. Volunteering or helping others

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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H. Socialising with family or friends

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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I. Watching news or educational programmes

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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J. Taking educational classes

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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K. Learning new things

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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L. Pursuing hobbies

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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M. Reading

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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N. Having a purpose in life

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry - though this is what most people we surveyed thought too)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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O. Playing a musical instrument or singing

TRICK QUESTION! (sorry)

There's no one thing that can definitely protect your brain and thinking skills. In fact, there are lots of things which might help.

Many things that keep you healthy as you age will also be good for your brain health, and that can help protect your thinking skills.

There's good evidence to suggest that physical activity, eating a good diet, getting enough sleep and keeping socially engaged are important.

The evidence for mentally challenging activity is complicated, but it wouldn't hurt.

Other things we've listed as answers are worth doing because they make life more enjoyable, and that can't hurt either!

Find out more

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How did you do?

0-3

Good try! If you'd like to brush up on what could help keep your thinking skills intact as you age, we've got plenty of information to help.

4-6

You're well on your way to understanding how to keep your thinking skills as sharp as possible! How about learning more about how your brain works?

Full marks!

Wow! You're a brain boffin. You know exactly how thinking skills might change as you get older. So how about putting that knowledge into practice?

Find out more

Interested in learning more about our attitudes to thinking skills and ageing? Download the full report, What Keeps You Sharp, from Heriot-Watt University's website.

Photo credit: Douglas Robertson

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