People perform tai-chi while exercising at Ritan Park in Beijing.Kevin Frayer/Getty Images Memory and cognitive function tend to decline as people age. But research shows that healthy habits can keep your memory stronger. MIT neuroscientist Li-Huei Tsai said it boils down to routine and discipline. It comes down to discipline.That's according to MIT Professor Li-Huei Tsai, a neuroscientist who focuses on diseases like Alzheimer's and directs The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory.