Every brain changes with age, and mental function changes alongside it. Mental decline is common, and it’s one of the most feared effects of aging. But cognitive impairment is not inevitable. Here are 12 ways you’ll help maintain brain function and keep your brain healthy.
Ways to Keep Your Brain Healthy
12 Ways to Keep Your Brain Healthy
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1. Get mental stimulation
Through research with mice and humans, scientists have found that brainy activities stimulate new connections between nerve cells and should even help the brain generate new cells, developing neurological “plasticity” and building up a functional reserve that gives a hedge against future cell loss.
Any mentally stimulating activity should help to create up your brain. Try to do some Mental Gymnastics by solving word puzzles. Experiment with things that need dexterity also as mental efforts, like drawing, painting, and other crafts.
2. Get physical exercise
Watch some research shows that make your brain muscle movement. Animals who exercise regularly increase the number of small blood vessels that bring oxygen-rich blood to the region of the brain that’s liable for thought. Exercise also spurs the event of the latest nerve cells and increases the connections between brain cells (synapses). This leads to brains that are more efficient, plastic, and adaptive, which translates into better performance in aging animals. Exercise also lowers vital signs, improves cholesterol levels, helps blood glucose balance, and reduces mental stress, all of which may help your brain also as your heart.
3. Improve your diet
Good nutrition can help your mind also as your body. For example, people that eat a Mediterranean-style diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, unsaturated oils (olive oil), and plant sources of proteins are less likely to develop cognitive impairment and dementia.
4. Improve your blood pressure
High vital sign in midlife increases the danger of cognitive decline in adulthood. Use lifestyle modification to stay your pressure as low as possible. Stay lean, exercise regularly, limit your alcohol to 2 drinks each day, reduce stress, and eat right.
5. Improve your blood sugar
Diabetes is an important risk factor for dementia. You can help prevent diabetes by exercising regularly, eating right, and staying lean. But if your blood glucose stays high, you will need medication to realize good control.
6. Improve your cholesterol
High levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of dementia. Diet, exercise, weight control, and avoiding tobacco will go an extended way toward improving your cholesterol levels. But if you need more help, ask your doctor about medication.
7. Consider low-dose aspirin
Some observational studies suggest that low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk of dementia, especially vascular dementia. Ask your doctor if you are a candidate.
8. Avoid tobacco
Avoid tobacco in all its forms.
9. Don’t abuse alcohol
Excessive drinking is a major risk factor for dementia. If you select to drink, limit yourself to 2 drinks each day.
10. Care for your emotions
People who are anxious, depressed, sleep-deprived, or exhausted tend to attain poorly on cognitive function tests. Poor scores don’t necessarily predict an increased risk of cognitive decline in adulthood, but a good psychological state and restful sleep are certainly important goals.
11. Protect your head
Moderate to severe head injuries, even without diagnosed concussions, increase the risk of cognitive impairment.
12. Build social networks
Strong social ties have been associated with a lower risk of dementia, as well as lower blood pressure and longer life expectancy.
Conculsion: Ways to Keep Your Brain Healthy
Above mentioned 12 ways to improve are easy to follow and are quickly effective to improve brain health.
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