Can’t remember why you entered a room or where you put your keys? Before you jump to conclusions and think you’re developing dementia, you should know your brain changes with age. As the size and structure of the brain change over time, we experience a decline in how well it works.
Naturopathic physicians Jack Schmutz, NMD and Joshua Hersh, NMD at Integrative Medica want you to know there are things you can do to help preserve brain health and its functions, like memory.
Here’s how to preserve a healthy brain, even as the aging process causes your brain to shrink and affects the ability of nerve cells to communicate.
Try the following tips to maintain strong brain function and healthy throughout the aging process:
Most of us know daily exercise is good for physical and cardiovascular health, but did you know it’s also good for your brain? Physical activity can reduce your risk of cognitive decline and developing dementia. Studies show cognitive decline is nearly twice as common among inactive adults as active adults.
Having high blood sugar increases your risk for dementia, even if you don’t develop diabetes. Start incorporating a low-sugar diet and avoiding candy and soda to preserve your brain’s health.
Drinking alcohol affects our bodies more negatively the older we get; the brain is no exception. Eliminate alcohol entirely or limit your consumption to one drink per day for women or two drinks per day for men.
Just as your muscles weaken from lack of use, your brain will also decline when it's not used frequently. Join social and voluntary organizations that keep you engaged with other people, participate in book clubs, take classes to learn new things, or try new hobbies.
Consuming just one serving of leafy greens daily will keep your brain healthy, as much as 11 years younger cognitively than those who rarely eat them.
Getting restorative sleep helps your body produce the growth hormone, which has been shown to preserve a healthy brain that remains strong in memory and alertness. The brain eliminates wastes while we sleep, like the amino acid beta-amyloid, a main component in developing Alzheimer’s plaques. If we don’t get restful sleep, the brain doesn’t have the opportunity to eliminate waste.
If you smoke, quit. Smoking and tobacco use are harmful to all of your organs, including the brain. You improve your chances for a healthier brain in the future by quitting smoking now, even if you’ve smoked for several years.
Lifestyle changes like those mentioned here can help anyone facing mid-to-late life cognitive brain decline or those with neurodegenerative disorders like multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer’s.
The caring team at Integrative Medica can also customize brain health treatments using various alternative and holistic approaches, including dietary supplements or counseling, intravenous (IV) therapy, and bioidentical hormone therapy, among others. Call the office in Salt Lake City, Utah, or schedule an appointment online to learn more.
