Thanks to all the health and fitness apps, gadgets, and resources out there, there’s a lot of public awareness these days about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. On Pinterest, many are exploring healthy recipes and new workout routines. Even if we don’t actually do more than just pin photos to an aspirational board, at least we’re thinking about it and sharing with others.

Our smartphones have made it so much easier to track and even share our fitness goals. And now thanks to social media, it’s significantly harder to get off track on our diets or new health kicks. Let’s face it – we know you want to Instagram that photo of Chicken & Waffles at your Sunday brunch, but it would totally take away from your newfound healthy cred.

However, working out and eating healthy won’t necessarily help prevent other health issues as you age. In fact, one of the biggest favors you can do for yourself isn’t even on the radar for many people: exercising your brain.

My grandma was recently put in a nursing home due to her difficult case of Alzheimer’s triggered dementia.  Memory loss is the most common symptom of this disease; however, as if that wasn’t enough, as Alzheimer’s progresses, the disease interferes with daily life as the brain loses the ability to communicate regular bodily functions. Watching my grandma struggle has made me realize how important it is to regularly exercise my brain.

Here are a few of my favorite resources for exercising your brain:

• Memory Trainer: This Android app is an excellent (and free!) way to build memory through games and puzzles. The app targets spatial and working memory, focus, chunking, and concentration skills.

• CogniFit Brain Fitness: CogniFit is perhaps the most affordable iOS option; at $2.99, it’s a no-brainer download (no pun intended). You can play brain-strengthening games either as part of a training regime, or just play single games when you have time. There is also a social option to share scores with friends.

• Fit Brains Trainer: This iPhone app features games that will improve memory, concentration and focus in an addictive, “gamer” format so you will look forward to playing every day. The app is free to download, but after 5 free sessions you will need to purchase a subscription to continue playing.

• Lumosity: This is the ultimate brain-training program, but also the most expensive. The program (which is primarily on the web) creates a customized regime for you based on your skills and areas you would like to improve. Using Lumosity daily helps improve cognitive abilities and sharpens memory, speed, flexibility, problem solving and concentration. A one year subscription to Lumosity costs $79.95, and there are family and group plans available as well. To temporarily sample it, download the free iPhone app.

And by all means, make better use of your phone by playing some good mind-challenging games (like the logos quiz or Conundra), because as with anything, if you don’t use it in the right way, you lose it.

** A huge thank you to my mom and aunt for all the love, patience and care they’ve given my grandma for all these years **