Ageing and mental decline are not synonymous, get rid of that idea. Your brain can remain active and sharp even when you are old and grey, but you have to play a role. Your brain changes as you get older; brain cells die off, chronic diseases such as diabetes affect it, and the certain functions decline. But many people ignore this fact until they are very old or they experience brain injury.
You shouldn’t wait until something happens to protect your brain, start taking the right steps now.
Use these 5 tips to protect your brain as you age:
Keep your brain stimulated
Getting older is not a reason to let go of intellectual pursuits or other mentally tasking activities. In fact, maintaining a high level of mental stimulation can help your brain generate new cells and preserve the connection between nerve cells.
Plus, it’s very easy to do. Read often, exercise properly, play mentally tasking games like Sudoku, word puzzles or Chess, or take online courses and get new certifications. Activities like painting and drawing also help to keep the brain stimulated.
Prioritize sleep
Sleep is an important component of good health, both physical and mental. And it becomes even more important as you age. Poor sleep can affect memory, concentration, and leave you feeling extremely tired during the day. Declining memory is already a problem of ageing; you don’t want to worsen it. If you have a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea or insomnia, ask your doctor for ways to manage it. Try to get 6-8 hours of sleep each night for optimal brain functioning.
Take care of your physical health
Ageing comes with a variety of physical health problems such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, other forms of heart disease, arthritis, and more. Now, more than ever, you should make healthy living a priority. Modify your lifestyle by exercising often, eating a balanced diet, and cutting down on alcoholic drinks. Avoid tobacco, nicotine, processed sugars, and foods rich in low density lipoprotein (LDL). High levels of LDL, alcohol, and other factors can worsen or result in chronic diseases like hypertension which can affect brain health and lead to dementia, a neurological disease.
Build your social network
Having people around you becomes more important as you grow older. A good social network can protect you from mental health diseases such as depression and dementia, and also increase life expectancy. Additionally, it protects against factors such as loneliness, and isolation that can worsen existing physical and mental health conditions.
Take control of your brain health
Researchers have discovered that if you believe that you have a level of control over your mental and physical health, you will be able to maintain good intellectual functioning (this includes memory) as your age. On the other hand, people who believe it’s out of their control are more likely to be distressed and anxious about ageing. This distress and anxiety can affect mental performance and exaggerate signs of intellectual decline. People in this group are also less likely to use strategies to maintain their health.
Conclusion
You are not a passive participant in the ageing journey. Take control of your life by watching your diet, protecting your physical and mental health, and taking steps to stimulate your brain. Your brain is plastic meaning that it is always ready to learn new things and stay active. It’s up to you to keep it in top shape.
