March 23rd, 2021
I have told you about the importance of protecting your brain, feeding it correctly and what happens to it during the aging process. This week we take a look at how we can protect our brains moving forward and set ourselves up for a bright future.
We live an amazing age of information! It is available quickly and easily. The following information comes from several web searches and Dr Sears books.
We all understand that in order to stay in good physical shape we need to exercise on a regular basis as well as maintain a healthy diet. The same is true for our brains – we need to do mental exercises to keep our brains sharp! Here is a partial list of mental exercises/activities: reading, memory games, going to classes and playing a musical instrument. Physical exercise has also shown to form new neural connections, so maybe try a new fitness or dance class to get your body moving and have fun at the same time.
Get regular checkups for your cardiovascular health. Studies show there is a link between cardiovascular problems (ie high blood pressure and diabetes) and dementia/Alzheimer’s disease.
Keep your blood sugar under control. For the same reason as #2. A study from the University of Washington showed that a Diabetes diagnosis was not necessary to increase the risk of dementia/Alzheimer’s, just high blood sugar levels increase your risk.
Wear a helmet when riding a bike, riding a motorcycle, skiing, and participating in similar activities.
Limit your stress and get an adequate amount of sleep. I am creating an entire course on stress that I hope to release before summer.
Protect your hearing and avoid social isolation. Wow! Hello 2020 and the ‘Rona. Social isolation and loneliness can increase your risk of problems with thought processes.
Talk to your pharmacist. Some medications can increase your risk of the above-mentioned problems. Your pharmacist and doctor will be able to check for interactions and answer questions/concerns you may have about any of the medications that you are taking. They will also be able to help you determine if there are any other options that may have a lower risk.
I hope you find this information helpful and easy to apply to your life. You do not have to tackle all of the steps today. Spread them out over a few weeks or months. We are striving for progress, not perfection. I am so glad you tuned in this week for my blog! Do you have a friend or family member that could benefit from this blog? Tell them to subscribe!
Have a blessed week ~ Lacey