Anti Aging Tips, Facts and Products

Keeping Your Brain Healthy As you Age

April 25th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Losing ones mind or becoming forgetful is often joked as being a part of aging. This indeed may be the case however it does not have to be. Memory loss can be a huge concern as we age, and for many the implications begin to hit home only after they witness a parent or loved one slowly deteriorate.

Our brains do age just as the rest of body; in fact we begin to loss brain cells as early as twenty years of age. The bright side of this fact is that aging of the brain can be affected either positively or negatively depending on the choices we make.

There are many different causes or reasons for memory loss that do not necessarily have to do with aging but are the results of lifestyle choices, medical issues or disease. Drinking, drugs, diabetes, thyroid imbalances, head injury or stroke all effect memory loss to varying degrees. Some of the effects are permanent and some can be improved with treatments, this is something that will have to de discussed with your doctor.

Disorders such as dementia and Alzheimers are diseases that have devastating results. Although there is no known cure many professionals believe that there are things we can do to help avoid their on set. If you are concerned that someone you know may be experiencing early signs contact a health care professional. These may include:

1. They ask the same questions repeatedly or tell the same stories over and over again.

2. They increasingly lose items that they use on a regular basis.

3. They get lost in familiar surroundings.

4. They forget how to do or complete a task they have always done or simply forget to do daily activities, for instance bathing.

5. Give up independent thinking, no longer making decisions for themselves, always pass the buck (if this is new for them).

Now what can we do keep our brains healthy. One main ingredient to brain health is found in the popular saying “Use it or lose it”. It is essential to continue working your brain throughout your life, it is also important to work the different parts of your brain. Continue learning and teaching, do puzzles, play games that require strategy and do creative activities; these will all keep your brain working at high efficiency.

Get rid of stress and release the drama. We have all heard about the negative effects that stress has on our bodies; our brains are part of the body. Live in the moment because that is where you are. Take a few minutes of quiet time per day to empty your mind of the endless chatter, meditate, do yoga, or take up ti chi. It is essential for overall health and should not be pushed aside because it sounds a little off the wall or just is not your thing, do not knock it unless you have really given it a honest try.

Diet and exercise are important on so many levels and they both have direct effects on brain health and memory loss. Fruits and vegetables as a part of your daily diets are a must; they contain so many of the nutrients necessary for a healthy brain. Just two servings of vegetables per day have proven to have incredible benefits. Another important nutrient is the omega-3 fatty acids; one of the most popular sources is fish such as salmon. If you do not like fish and refuse to eat it, get a fish oil supplement.

Exercise again is imperative, physical activity needs to be a part of your daily routine and it is never too late to start. Thirty minutes a day is considered to be adequate to get the important health benefits. There are many physical activities that can be done to stimulate your heart and mind, for instance a couple times a week choose activities that require thought, concentration or strategy. Bowling, tennis, horseshoes, cricket, or golf are all good options, be creative and have fun.