If you want to improve your brain - forget memory. What to work on instead...

Most of us associate memory with the wellbeing of our brains...

...but according to Sandra Bond Chapman, author of “Make Your Brain Smarter,” memory has little to do with brain fitness. She says the best way to maintain or improve your brainpower is to give it a workout - tailored to your age:

* Age 45 and younger: Don’t get distracted. Your memory skills may be at an all-time high but your brain is not great at choosing which facts to remember. Checking gadgets and multitasking are actually robbing you of developing long-term brainpower. 

* Age 46 to 65: Stop multitasking. While you may start forgetting names in your mid 40s, you’re actually better at sorting through and weighing tasks than the younger bunch. To tap into that brainpower, narrow your focus to the task at hand and don’t get hung up on mild memory loss.

* Age 66 and older: Don’t slip into autopilot. A bored brain is a lame brain. Take on challenges greater than a crossword puzzle, such as learning new technology or honing a second language. The brain expands and develops new pathways when it's pushed to explore unfamiliar areas.