Like any other part of our bodies, our brain receives health benefits from living an overall healthy lifestyle. The four lifestyle areas that have the most impact on our brain health include food and nutrition, physical activity and wellness, cognitive stimulation and social involvement. According to the Alzheimer’s Association recent research on brain health, “combining good nutrition with mental, social and physical activities may have a greater benefit in maintaining or improving brain health than any single activity”.Â
Research by the National Institute on Aging also suggests that people who have more cognitive reserve and/or are able to adapt healthy parts of their brain to take over for impairment in other areas may add to the genetic and/or environmental factors on their side by living a healthy lifestyle. So what actions can you take to maintain your brain, as well as overall health, as you age?
1. Control for risk factors that lead to chronic disease, including heart disease and diabetes (monitor and control blood pressure and cholesterol within healthy range and maintain a proper weight).
2. Eat a healthy, nutritious diet including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
3. Follow a regular exercise routine that you enjoy and stay active in your daily life.
4. Engage in mentally stimulating activities and keep learning new things.
5. Maintain strong social relationships with friends and family members and stay involved with others in the local community including working for a cause you believe in.
We have all heard the phrase “use it or lose it”. This pertains to our body, mind and spirit. Since our brain is the control center of our being taking good care and keeping it active will benefit our whole person as we age.
For more information about brain health, contact Oscar Lugo at Summerhill Villa at 661-254-9933 or visit our website at www.mbkseniorliving.com.