We wrapped up our Living Longer series Friday with a look at ways to keep your brain strong throughout your life. Doctors recommend exercising your bring, much like you would your body. Memory Center Director, Dr. Stephen Gemmell, says you should do brain exercises 3 days a week for an hour or two a day. Exercises could include doing crossword puzzles, playing games, an instrument, going back to school or working on the computer. He also stresses that diet and exercise are also important to keeping your brain healthy. If you're looking to go back to school, then look no further than the College at the Crossings in Bella Vista. The college is an extension of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and opened August 2004. It was created to provide higher educational opportunities to adults 55 and older. Classes offered at the center range from arts and crafts, to music and genealogy. To learn more, just visit the College at the Crossings website.

Another great facility in this area to offer educational programs for the elderly, is the Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education. It's a satellite of the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging at UAMS. There are examination rooms and rehab facilities there, but also an education wing. To learn more about the programs offered at the Schmieding Center, just visit this site.

Also, earlier this week, I blogged about the Adult Wellness Center in Rogers. That's a great place to get together with friends for a card game or learn a new craft. You can read more about the Adult Wellness Center by reading my blog entry from Wednesday. Local senior centers are also a great place to exercise your brain. Many of the centers offer arts and crafts, dancing and card games. Just call you local senior center to learn more.

Don't forget, you can catch the entire living longer series on our Sunrise page, just look under the video section.

In part 3 of our Living Longer series, we told you why exercising is so important when it comes to living a longer life. Adult Wellness Center Director Keri Wilkinson says strength training is key so you can continue doing the activities you enjoy throughout your life. Resistance bands are a great way to get in some strength training if you can't make it to the gym or you are traveling. They are light, easy to pack and stash away in your desk at work easily. Your goal for cardiovascular exercises should be at least 30 minutes of exercise, 3 days a week. Of course, as you age, you lose muscle mass and your bones can become weaker, so if you're concerned about what types of exercises would be good for you, Wilkinson says that walking and water aerobics are both easy on the joints.