Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Spring 2021

6 You know it’s important to keep parts of your body, like your heart and kidneys, healthy. But have you given much thought to taking good care of your brain too? There are many advantages to keeping your brain healthy—especially as you get older. For starters, it makes life easier. Everything from keeping important appointments to finding your phone and car keys is less frustrating when you can remember and think clearly. But what’s more, keeping your brain healthy may also help you avoid more significant memory and thinking problems, such as cognitive decline or even Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Improved physical health and mental sharpness The good news? No matter what your age, you can take steps to reduce your risk of cognitive decline. And a great way to do that is to take care of your physical health through healthy lifestyle habits. One reason is that healthy living helps prevent or control chronic health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, which may be dementia risk factors. For example, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the brain, robbing brain cells of their nourishing blood supply. This also may lead to changes in the tissues of the brain—causing small, symptomless strokes—that may, in turn, lead to dementia. There’s more: In addition to maintaining your physical health, maintaining mental stimulation also may be a good way to support your brain. steps for a healthier brain 1 Fit movement into your day. Regular physical activity, like brisk walking, can boost circulation to your brain. At the same time, it may help you avoid chronic conditions that may harm your brain. If you’re cooped up at home, try jumping jacks, riding a stationary bike or jogging in place. 2 Put a taste of the Mediterranean on your plate. A combination of the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets may help lower Alzheimer’s risk, research suggests. These diets were designed to improve heart health and lower blood pressure, but when combined, they also may boost your brain. To start, eat more fruits and vegetables and limit the amount of saturated fat you eat. Be sure to include low- or nonfat dairy, whole grains, nuts, and fish in your diet too. Use olive oil instead of butter for cooking. Boost your brain health Here are six steps you can take that may be good for your brain health: BRAIN HEALTH 12 VITALITY Spring 2021