Teaching older individuals to take selfies could help them ward off dementia, leading experts claim.
But elderly people are wasting their time playing “brain games” in a bid to stay mentally alert.
Instead, they should take up photography classes to keep their mind sharp.
Other hobbies identified as beneficial by the Global Council on Brain Health include learning a language, practicing tai-chi, and investigating your family tree.
Physical activities such as dancing, gardening or tennis that involve both mental engagement and exercise are also recommended by experts.
The UK’s chief age scientist, James Goodwin, said: “In the same way that you need to maintain exercise for physical strength, you need to participate in mentally stimulating activities to support the health of your brain.
“Many people think that all thinking skills decline with age.
“But decline is not inevitable, and there are plenty of activities that we can start today that can provide benefits for brain health.”
The report also warns the earlier that people work on keeping their mind fit, the greater protection in later life.
There is currently no cure for dementia but some drugs can control the symptoms.
However, one in three cases could be prevented by making easy lifestyle changes from childhood onwards.
Experts identified nine factors that damage brain health and increase the risk of developing the disease.
Writing in the Lancet last month, they warned better education and addressing hearing loss, high blood pressure and obesity could slash rates by a fifth.
Stopping smoking, treating depression, exercising, socializing and managing diabetes as an older individual could reduce dementia by a further 15 percent.
Scientists estimate 35 percent fewer people would develop the disease if every one of these issues was addressed.