From multivitamins to crafting with friends, the ‘Strangers With Candy’ star shares her recipe for staying mentally sharp and young at heart.
The macabre humor of Amy Sedaris may not be for the faint of heart, but it has kept the award-winning actor, writer, and comedian young at heart.
Best-known for her role as Jerri in “Strangers With Candy,” which recently celebrated the 25-year anniversary of its cancellation, Sedaris, 64, is determined to keep her mind sharp.
From juggling multiple projects, including roles in a television series (“Elsbeth”) and new feature films (“Is This Thing On” and “Office Romance”), to partnering with a multivitamin campaign for Centrum Silver to promote brain health in aging adults, Sedaris is no stranger to brain candy if it means supporting healthy cognition.
A recent consumer survey conducted by Centrum and Talker Research polled 2,000 U.S. adults ages 50 and older, revealing that 78% of respondents are concerned about cognitive aging, and 96% consider maintaining cognitive abilities and memory essential.
Research from the COSMOS-Mind clinical trial suggests that daily use of a multivitamin, such as Centrum Silver, may slow cognitive aging by up to 60%.
For Sedaris, a one-and-done approach to vitamins and supplements to support her brain health suits her lifestyle best.
“You see one ad on TV, and then you buy it, and then your whole countertop turns into vitamins, and it’s like, too much,” Sedaris told Healthline.
“Like, I didn’t know there were so many Bs,” she said of B vitamins, “but I like taking vitamins, I want extra. I’m just lucky nothing major has happened yet, where I’ve had to have surgeries and things like that. So, I will do and take anything to prevent that from happening.”
Most experts recommend a food-first approach to nutrition, meaning that supplements are only necessary if there is a deficiency.
“You can get all the nutrients you need for optimal brain health from a healthy diet,” said David Cutler, MD, board certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.
“The science of brain health is new, evolving, and controversial. There are many studies [that] have yielded conflicting findings. But some things seem apparent regarding basic nutrients, overall diet composition, and non-dietary factors to enhance cognitive function. There is no proven general benefit for any dietary supplement when no nutritional deficiency exists,” Cutler told Healthline.
“For aging adults, a high quality multivitamin formulated for their age group, plus omega-3s (salmon, sardines, chia seeds), antioxidants (blueberries and dark leafy greens), and key vitamins [and minerals] like B12, D, magnesium, and E can make a measurable difference in cognitive function, mood, and overall brain resilience,” Calderon told Healthline.
Cutler noted that the strongest evidence for a diet supporting brain health is associated with the MIND diet, a “Mediterranean diet twist” on the DASH diet, which is linked to improved cardiovascular outcomes. For example:
- Eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
- Including low fat dairy products.
- Moderate consumption of fish, poultry, beans, and nuts.
- Limiting foods that are high in saturated fat, such as fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, and tropical oils such as coconut, palm kernel, and palm oils.
- Limiting sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets.
- No more than 2,300 milligrams per day of sodium (salt).
- Using olive oil as your main source of fat.
- Limiting processed meats and sweets.
“Maintaining brain health is more than just about diet. Certainly, managing your diet and medications to prevent and control high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol are all essential,” Cutler said.
For aging adults, a healthy diet and regular exercise are essential for supporting brain health; however, other strategies can also be beneficial.
Studies have shown that engaging in hobbies, socializing, and practicing self-care can help prevent cognitive decline.
Sedaris gets a monthly facial, for instance, and is always on the move due to her fast-paced New York City lifestyle, which she said keeps her mind stimulated.
“I complain a lot about living in a city, but I always think at least I’m paying attention,” she said.
In addition to memorizing her lines for her roles, Sedaris shared that she also enjoys making things with her hands.
“I get a group together, and we’ll make a little crafting circle, especially now with Christmas coming up. I’ll make dinner, and we sit around, and we chit-chat and make things,” she said.
“I like to engage with people. I’m a good listener, and I like to meet people. And I think that kind of stuff keeps you young, so I don’t think about aging that much.”
Calderon described social connections as “brain food” and a “biological necessity for brain health.”
Calderon recommended the following activities to help keep the mind sharp:
- Games and puzzles — whether by yourself or with friends (i.e., trivia nights, sudoku, crosswords, puzzles, card games, brain-powered screen games via phone or tablet apps)
- Movement-based activities that increase blood flow to the brain (i.e., Zumba, pickleball, walking clubs, pool aerobics, or yoga).
- Learning something new in a group (i.e., cooking, dancing, or a new language class). “Novelty challenges the brain, while group settings add accountability and emotional engagement,” Calderon said.
- Book clubs or discussion circles — these help with comprehension, critical thinking, and communication, which can aid in maintaining cognitive function.
“My dad, who lived to be 98, was sharp as a tack. I would say for everyone in my family, our brains are on 24 hours a day. We’re thinkers, we’re talkers,” said Sedaris, whose brother is the acclaimed writer and humorist David Sedaris.
“The thing that’s difficult for me is getting my brain and my heart to work together. There’s nothing really great about getting older, but a benefit is not feeling my age,” she continued.
“It’s a world for young people. But then when you hang out with older people, you don’t feel that so much, and you’re like, oh, this is great — we’re all older, and we’re all hanging out together, and we’re all doing pretty great.”