An MIT neuroscientist says 'routine' and 'discipline' are the keys to preserving memory and staving off dementia

People perform tai-chi while exercising at Ritan Park in Beijing.

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• Memory and cognitive function tend to decline as people age.
• But research shows that healthy habits can keep your memory stronger.
• MIT neuroscientist Li-Huei Tsai said it boils down to routine and discipline.

It comes down to discipline.

That's according to MIT Professor Li-Huei Tsai, a neuroscientist who focuses on diseases like Alzheimer's and directs The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory.