As everyone ages, we give utmost importance to our physical health and the condition of our bodies. Little do we know that our ‘Brain Health’ is equally important one. Brains are the most vital organ of our body which plays a major role in our everyday life. As a matter of fact, Our brains also age as we do. Brain aging affects every senior, or every brain differently. As we grow older, many risk developing mental health disorders if brain health is not properly maintained. This article is all about how to maintain perfect Brain Health and how to keep seniors mentally active.
At just about 1.3 Kilograms in weight, the human brain is the most complex feat of engineering in our human body. It has close to 100,000,000,000 neurons (100 Billion) interconnected via trillions of synapses. Throughout our lifetime, the brain has the most impact on our lives. During the first few years of our life, the brain forms more than 1 million new neural connections each day! Before preschool, the size of the brain increases fourfold and by age of 6 it is 90% of an adult's volume.
Brain health for seniors in a nutshell refers to how well the brain functions in several areas. Some of the aspects of brain health include
Cognitive health - how well you remember, recall and ability to learn
Motor health - how well you maintain balance and control voluntary movements
Tactile health - how well you respond to sensation of touch and feelings
Emotional health - how well you control emotions and respond to it
For seniors, brain health is mostly affected due to age-related changes in the brain. Other direct factors are injuries like Brain injury, Strokes, substance addiction and diseases like Alzhemiers, etc. While some factors affecting the brain are inevitable, there are many ways to delay or minimize its effects.
Regardless of your age, the good news is that you can take proactive steps to keep your brain mentally active. Here are six ways for seniors to keep their brains mentally healthy.
Use your memory
As simple as it sounds, simply using your memory for everyday activities could help boost brain function keeping it sharp and fit. For example, engaging in memory exercises helps improve both short and long term recall. Real life scenarios include, memorizing grocery list rather than noting it down in ‘smart’ phones (Which makes us dumb). Do simple math in your head instead of doing it in a calculator. Use your memory as much as you can and as often as you can.
Avoid medications with brain slowing side effects
As seniors age, they have to take a lot of medications for their wellbeing. Some of the ingredients have brain slowing side effects on seniors. These types of medicine on a long term use gradually reduces brain health and are linked to higher rates of Alzheimers. Learn to identify these medicines and try alternative ones or use them only as a last resort when the benefits outweigh the cons. Do consult with your family physician for more information. If you do not have one, visit 60Plus India and book a certified and vetted physician for your family soon! They work exclusively for seniors and have various services catering to their needs.
Learn something new
The book that you always wanted to read, the instrument that you always wanted to play, the language which you felt you had to learn… This is the best time to do so. Well, doing it now can take a longer time than while you were young, but learning something new improves cognitive function and creates new neural connections in the brain. The same goes for any hobby pursuits - be it cooking, painting, sewing, etc. Cultivating a new hobby is a guaranteed way to keep your brain healthy as you age.
Eat healthy foods
Eating healthy foods has a direct impact on both body and brain’s well-being. In general, a healthy diet consists of surplus fruits and vegetables, high protein, low fat, whole grain and poultry foods. Limit your intake of sugars and salt. Eat meals in appropriate portions and remember to drink adequate water and other fluids. A poor diet contributes to faster brain aging. Research have found that people who have healthier body show a slower rate of cognitive decline than their peers
Be physically active
Any sort of physical activity stimulates the human brain. Any repeated activity leads to the maintaining of old neural connections in the brain which are vital to brain health. Physically active does not always mean exercises and cardio, it also means doing the daily chores and household works without any difficulty. Our brains show more metabolism after any form of exercise. Apart from improving brain health, being physically fit improves strength, delays diseases, improves mood and balance. For seniors it is recommended to get at least 2.5 hours of physical activity each week. Starting an exercise program after consulting with your physician can also help. Walking daily is a good start to be physically active.
Get proper sleep
Getting proper sleep benefits the brain at any age. Chronic sleep deprivations are linked to major brain issues. Sleeping without sleeping pills is recommended in the long term. Do not take a sleeping pill unless specifically instructed by a doctor to do so. Sleep problems like not getting enough sleep, poor quality of sleep and sleep disorders affects the cognitive functioning of the brain.
Do not panic if you realize that as you age, your brain is not what it was a decade ago. This is a natural process of Brain aging. But, following the above 6 steps guarantee you a fit and well functioning brain as you grow older. These points can be started any time and implemented into your daily life easily. Take it slow and a healthy brain is worth all the efforts. Take these actions and you will eventually be on track for maintaining better brain health as you age.
Author: Team 60plus India
Keywords : Brain health, Brain health in seniors, Mental Health, Active brain, Seniors and Brain, Aging in seniors, Healthy Brain, 6 steps for a Healthy Brain.
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