Ways to Feed Your Brain

You can lift weights to beef up your body, so shouldn't a good mental workout beef up your brain?

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The answer is yes -- and no, says Michael Marsiske, an associate professor in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida. Marsiske was part of a group of researchers who studied adults older than 65 and found that those who participated in practice sessions in reasoning, memory and processing speed came away with significantly better functioning in those areas. (That would be the yes part.)

There's a catch, though (here's the no): The results apply only to older adults, only to specific tasks and only to the controlled setting of the study, says Marsiske, who cautions that most purported mental exercises are proven to improve only your function in the specific task you're practicing. Whether they carry over to other mental functions remains to be seen.

Even advice to do crossword puzzles or learn to play a musical instrument as a way to improve your smarts doesn't have a scientific basis, he says. Same for the host of video games and other products that seek to help you hone your memory and thinking skills (many are too new to have been studied thoroughly, although Marsiske says promising studies are on the horizon).

What we do know to be beneficial, especially for younger people, Marsiske says, is being healthy, exposing yourself to new experiences, staying socially active and continuing to learn, among other things. With that in mind, here are a few ways to boost your brainpower in the area:

Take In a Show

Tackle a visual or performing art. Try the Kennedy Center for a sampling of opera, ballet, the symphony, film and more. A bonus: At 6 p.m. daily, the center hosts a free Millennium Stage performance as part of its Performing Arts for Everyone initiative.

Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW, 202-467-4600, http://www.kennedy-center.org.

Other options:

* Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, 703-820-9771, http://www.sig-online.org.

* Warner Theatre, 13th and E streets NW, 202-783-4000, http://www.warnertheatre.com.

* Wolf Trap, Filene Center, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, 703-255-1868, http://www.wolftrap.org.

Broaden Your Horizons

Get a taste of the world right here at home. Drink wine with fellow Francophiles, play Sudoku at the Swiss Embassy or meet with a monthly foreign language discussion group. The 26,000-member International Club of DC ( http://www.internationalclubdc.com) hosts cultural events, volunteer opportunities, sporting fun and more. It's free to join, although some activities have fees.