Why Doing More of What You Love Can Help Your Brain Stay Sharper For Longer

Brain health is one of the leading topics in today’s health and wellness headlines, yet articles often lead us to believe that keeping the brain active is more complicated than we think. New research however, suggests that it doesn’t have to be. Rather than adhering to a strict regime of crossword puzzles, sudoku’s and learning a new skill or language, Professor Yaakov Sterling, a leading academic at Columbia University, New York, has a much more liberating message, “do more of what you love”.

While liberating, Professor Yaakov’s message is still rooted in science and it’s important to recognise that doing more of what you love doesn’t start in later life. It starts much earlier around the age of 30 when the hippocampus starts to decline. Through the use of brain imaging technology, Professor Yaakov Stern has been able to show these subtle changes.

‘Ageing is not just for old people. It’s a life-long process. It’s not something that just starts when you’re 70’, says Professor Yaakov Stern.

Cognitive decline and its associated pathologies of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are not pre-determined. While some can be more susceptible to cognitive decline through genetics, the evidence shows us that up to 40% of dementia cases are preventable through modifiable lifestyle factors, and as Professor James Goodwin says, “it is never too late or too early to start looking after your brain health.”

In understanding this, it is clear that the choices we make today, will have a significant impact on our future selves. While this isn’t cause for alarm, it is a call to action, encouraging each of us to work towards building cognitive reserve so we stay sharp and feel good in our later years.

In 2019, a landmark study which examined data on over 10,000 adults tracked for nearly 28 years, found that those who were socially active at age 60 were less likely to go on to develop dementia. Research has also found that those engaged in mentally stimulating activities, whether that be reading a book, knitting or doing a crossword puzzle, had a lower risk of developing cognitive impairment in later life.

Modifiable lifestyle factors are the things that we have control over in our lives. It means eating well, moving on a daily basis, getting enough sleep, keeping the mind active and living a healthy life – the six core pillars that are the foundations of Brain Health Network. The Global Council, an independent panel of leading scientists and doctors recommend a wide range of activities to help keep the brain active, but crucially there is no one activity that has proven to be better than others. What matters is staying engaged in the activity at hand.

This is why, rather than creating unachievable goals, Professor Yaakov’s suggestion – do more of what you love – is thought to be the best contribution to brain health. Enjoyment enables us to stay engaged..

“I try to avoid making people feel that there is only one right thing to do. Everybody has interests, so follow those interests. If you like to read, read. If you like to garden, enjoy gardening. The key thing is to make sure to do something or many things. From a day to day point of view, it’s much more manageable and enjoyable,” says Professor Yaakov Stern.

Professor Yaakov’s message removes the pressure so many of us face in today’s fast paced world. Instead of trying to overhaul your life and pursue something you don’t enjoy, think about what you already love doing and make more space for it in your daily routine. As he says, if you enjoy reading, then read more and perhaps challenge yourself to a different genre of books. If you enjoy knitting, why not try a new pattern that you haven’t done before. There are many ways to do what you love, while adding that little extra challenge to really stimulate the mind and help form new neural pathways that help to keep brain health in check.

By embracing your hobbies and therefore tending to your brain health, you are helping to build cognitive reserve everyday, investing in your future and lifelong vitality.

For related articles, read Rise of the Superagers, “DNA is not destiny. It is entirely possible to slow down brain ageing”. Professor James Goodwin.
Brain Health Network

The last few years have emphasised how uncertain life can be; how we never know what is around the corner. Brexit and the pandemic have now been followed by the worrying and upsetting events in Ukraine. Life feels more uncertain again.

This perhaps makes it more important for us to take control where we can, as much as we can, particularly when it comes to our family’s long-term future and security. So here we take a look at the key wealth management considerations we should review from time to time.

Pension planning

For most of us, our pension funds are key to our long-term financial security, so great care must be taken to do what is right for you and your family. The UK pension freedoms may no longer be ‘new’, but they can still cause uncertainty when deciding what to do with yours, and each option has pros and cons.

If you are planning to spend your retirement years in France, you also need to establish the local tax implications and what works best for you as a France resident.

Many expatriates have chosen to transfer UK pensions to a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) for the advantages they can offer, such as income and currency flexibility. But they do not suit everyone – you may find it more beneficial, for example, to reinvest UK pension funds into French-compliant investment arrangements, or even leave your UK pension where it is. Also, the UK has recently made changes which make transferring to QROPS more difficult.

In any case, you should always take personalised, regulated pensions advice to ensure you take the best course of action for your particular circumstances.

Your savings and investments

It is impossible to control what may or may not happen in the markets in future, what geopolitical events may cause volatility or prices to rise; we can’t know what interest rates will be five, ten, or twenty years from now.

But we can take steps to build an investment portfolio that:

· is based around our risk profile, circumstances, time horizon and objectives; and

· includes suitable asset allocation and diversification to control risk; and

· is designed to provide capital growth over the longer term to beat inflation so you can maintain your spending power through retirement.

Geopolitical events, like those we’re seeing at the moment, can cause significant market turbulence which can be unsettling for investors, but that does not mean it’s the time for knee-jerk reactions or short-term changes.

History has shown that ‘timing’ markets is incredibly difficult, especially where out-sized market movements are involved. And in timing, an investor needs to get it right twice – when to encash some of your investments and when to get in the market. Getting one right is rarely achieved, as the news has already arrived by the time you can look to act (so markets will already have reacted). The same also applies when markets move sharply upward as we saw after the initial covid news in 2020.

Investing is a marathon not a sprint, so being patient and sticking with the plan can pay off.

Estate planning

While we cannot avoid death, with good estate planning we can control who receives our assets and when. Is your legacy on track to go to your chosen heirs according to your wishes and with minimal taxation? Take care to understand the succession laws and inheritance tax in France and anywhere else you have assets and heirs, as well as the pros and cons of using the EU succession regulation ‘Brussels IV’ to override local ‘forced heirship’ rules.

You need a strategy that achieves your wishes while making the process straightforward and tax-efficient for your heirs. And don’t forget your own needs; consider the tax implications to find the optimum solution for your wealth during your lifetime too.

Tax planning

The way you structure your assets and wealth can make a significant difference to your tax bill. You need to make sure your arrangements are structured appropriately for your life in France as well as your particular aims, circumstance, goals and risk appetite.

Are you taking advantage of tax-efficient structures available in France? Besides tax savings, these may offer additional benefits such as currency and income flexibility and estate planning advantages.

Ultimately, cross-border tax and financial planning is complex. While you can do some groundwork yourself, you will benefit from talking to a specialist adviser with in-depth knowledge of the French tax regime and its interaction with UK rules. They can help you take advantage of available tax, investment, pensions, and estate planning opportunities to ensure you do what works best for you and your family, today, tomorrow and the future.

By Rob Kay, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks
Link to Rob Kay profile / contact page

You can find other financial advisory articles by visiting our website here

Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; individuals should seek personalised advice.

Blevins Franks Group is represented in France by the following companies: Blevins Franks Wealth Management Limited (BFWML) and Blevins Franks France SASU (BFF). BFWML is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority, registered number C 92917. Authorised to conduct investment services under the Investment Services Act and authorised to carry out insurance intermediary activities under the Insurance Distribution Act. Where advice is provided outside of Malta via the Insurance Distribution Directive or the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, the applicable regulatory system differs in some respects from that of Malta. BFWML also provides taxation advice; its tax advisers are fully qualified tax specialists. Blevins Franks France SASU (BFF), is registered with ORIAS, registered number 07 027 475, and authorised as ‘Conseil en Investissements Financiers’ and ‘Courtiers d’Assurance’ Category B (register can be consulted on www.orias.fr). Member of ANACOFI-CIF. BFF’s registered office: 1 rue Pablo Neruda, 33140 Villenave d’Ornon – RCS BX 498 800 465 APE 6622Z. Garantie Financière et Assurance de Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle conformes aux articles L 541-3 du Code Monétaire et Financier and L512-6 and 512-7 du Code des Assurances (assureur MMA). Blevins Franks Trustees Limited is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority for the administration of retirement schemes. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFWML.