Six Habits That Improve Your Brain Health
Recently, American actor Bruce Willis was in the news for the wrong reasons. Having been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, he is now reportedly having difficulty communicating.
Generally, dementia refers to a group of thinking and social symptoms that interferes with daily functioning. It is not a specific disease but a group of conditions characterised by impairment of at least two brain functions, such as memory loss and judgement.
The common symptoms of dementia include forgetfulness, limited social skills and thinking abilities. Others include increasing confusion,
reduced concentration, personality or behaviour changes, apathy and withdrawal or depression.
Misplacing things as well as problems with keeping track of things is also one of the early signs of dementia.
While this is not a medical expert’s view, it is important for everyone-young and old- to preserve their brain health to prevent conditions that can reduce their life expectancy.
Here are a few underrated habits that can improve your brain health.
Sleep
Due to the demands of work and family responsibilities, many people do not sleep the required hours. Sleep allows the body and brain to rest. Lack of sleep impairs the brain.
Exercise
The brain is always active, even during sleep. Still, there are certain activities that can improve memory, cognitive function, or creativity. One of these is exercise. More often than not, we tend to think of exercise in terms of cardio workout. However, brain exercises are found to be very helpful in maintaining brain function.
Playing games, solving puzzles, socialising and learning new skills, listening to music, joining a karaoke club or app are found to be very helpful in maintaining a positive attitude and sound mind.
Be Socially Active
Living in isolation without much interaction with friends and family outside one’s home can be damaging to brain health. You may take it for granted but attending small gatherings, volunteering in community projects and shopping are some of the simple ways of being socially involved. Social interaction helps ward off depression and stress which are the key causes of memory loss.
Moderate Diet
Maintain a diet that is moderate in alcohol and tobacco intake. You should stop smoking. This is important because the cerebral cortex is a part of the brain that is crucial for thinking skills including memory and learning, but smoking makes it thin. The thicker, the better.
Fruits such as oranges, bell peppers, guava, kiwi, tomatoes, and strawberries contain high amounts of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps prevent brain cells from damage and supports overall brain health. Experts say vitamin C can potentially prevent Alzheimer’s.
Hiking
Regular hiking can increase the memory and prevent memory loss. Moderately-paced walks can help stimulate the release of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, that is key to the survival of existing brain neurons and the generation of new ones.
Hiking is more than just a stroll through the woods but a brain volume saver.