The Importance of Nurturing Brain Health
For anyone who’s had to search their mind for a word or a detail, it may be a surprise to hear that, according to brain health experts, memory isn’t everything. So why is it the first or only thing we worry about?
“People don’t really care about performing better on some mental test,” says Gary Small, M.D., chair of psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center. They want to remember their grocery list. When they’re walking down the street and see someone they know, they want to remember that person’s name so they don’t have to say, ‘Hi, um, how are you?’ and can say, ‘Hi, Mary, how are you doing?’
But memory is much more complicated than pulling a name from your memory or knowing you’re running low on milk. Recalling a friend’s name, for example, is also tied to your brain’s processing speed, your ability to focus, and a host of other factors you can improve, but you’ll have to put in some effort.
Preventing Dementia with Brain Heath Habits
Ten Healthy Habits for Your Brain is a new public health campaign launched by the Alzheimer’s Association that provides easy-to-understand brain health strategies to reduce the risk of dementia. Science shows that healthy habits keep our brains healthy, so it’s imperative that we spread the message and encourage people to act and act now.
Two-thirds of Americans have at least one major potential risk factor for dementia. If this doesn’t change, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s could double by mid-century.
The science on dementia risk reduction is changing, and the need for risk reduction strategies grows by the day. Prevention is the best medicine, and brain health is central to public health.
Growing evidence shows that modifying risk factors and promoting healthy behaviors can reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. As many as 40% of dementia cases may be attributable to modifiable risk factors. People can take positive steps now to protect themselves.
Ten Healthy Habits for Your Brain
1.) Challenge your mind
Be curious! Put your brain to work and do something that is new for you. Learn a new skill. Try something artistic. Challenging your mind may have short- and long-term benefits for your brain.
2.) Stay in school
Education reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Encourage youth to stay in school and pursue the highest level of training possible. Continue your own education by taking a class at a local library or college, or online.
3.) Protect your head
Help prevent an injury to your head. Wear a helmet for activities like biking and wear a seatbelt. Protect yourself while playing sports. Do what you can to prevent falls, especially for older adults.
4.) Get moving
Engage in regular exercise. This includes activities that raise your heart rate and increase blood flow to the brain and body. Find ways to build more movement into your day — walking, aerobic exercise, gardening — whatever works for you!
5.) Be smoke-free
Quitting smoking can lower the risk of cognitive decline back to levels similar to those who have not smoked. It’s never too late to stop.
6.) Control your blood pressure
Medications can help lower high blood pressure. And healthy habits like eating right and physical activity can help, too. Work with a health care provider to control your blood pressure.
7.) Manage diabetes
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or controlled by eating healthier, increasing physical activity and taking medication, if necessary.
8.) Eat right
Eating healthier foods can help reduce your risk of cognitive decline. This includes more vegetables and leaner meats/proteins, along with foods that are less processed and lower in fat. Choose healthier meals and snacks that you enjoy and are available to you.
9.) Maintain a healthy weight
Talk to your health care provider about the weight that is healthy for you. Other healthy habits on this list — eating right, exercising and sleeping well — can help with maintaining a healthy weight.
10.) Sleep well
Good quality sleep is important for brain health. Stay off screens before bed and make your sleep space as comfortable as possible. Do all you can to minimize disruptions. If you have any sleep-related problems, such as sleep apnea, talk to a health care provider.
Prioritizing Brain Health
It’s clear that prioritizing brain health goes beyond just memory, as highlighted by Dr. Gary Small and the Ten Healthy Habits for Your Brain campaign. By understanding the interconnected nature of memory with brain processing speed and focus, we can take proactive steps to reduce the risk of dementia. With efforts like spreading awareness and encouraging action, we can work towards a future where Alzheimer’s cases are minimized. Staying informed and implementing brain health strategies are crucial in our journey to maintain optimal brain health and well-being.
It may seem overwhelming to adopt all these new behaviors, but one important key to the process: look at it less as a chore and more as a way to live longer and healthier. Consider working with a friend, family member, or neighbor to help hold you accountable and engage in these healthy habits with you
If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia and is considering a memory support community, consider taking a tour of one of The Ohio Masonic Communities campuses. With three senior living communities across the state of Ohio – Browning Masonic Community in Waterville, Ohio, Springfield Masonic Community in Springfield, Ohio, and Western Reserve Masonic Community in Medina, Ohio – each offers premier living options with exceptional experiences so residents can live their best lives. If you are interested in learning more about one of our communities, give us a call at 1-877-881-1623. We will be happy to answer all your questions and be a trusted resource in the search for the right community for you!