10 Ways to Keep Your Brain Young

Your brain is in charge of your body. All your functions, your motions, your interpretations, your feelings, and your thoughts are completely connected to your brain. After decades of research, neuroscientists still have not tapped into the human brain’s full potential and do not fully know how they work fully. However, they do know how to keep the brain healthy and even keep it young as well.

Brain Aging 

For older adults, brain aging can be a big worry, especially if they feel like their brain may not be what it used to be. Cognitive health – which encompasses how well you think, learn, and remember – is a very important thing to monitor. Motor function is how well your brain tells your body to move, including balancing. Emotional function is how you interpret and respond to emotions. Tactile function is how you feel and respond to touch. All of these categories make up your overall brain health.

The National Institute on Aging confirms that you can better maintain your brain health by taking care of your overall health. Consider following these 10 steps:

#1. Take care of your physical health

Taking care of your physical health is very important for maintaining your brain health, especially as you age. Make sure that you are going to the doctor regularly for checkups, taking your prescribed medications, and following your doctor’s advice for your general health.

#2. Manage high blood pressure

If you suffer from high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s suggestions for managing it. Research shared by the National Institute on Aging shows that high blood pressure in adults is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline later in life. Managing your blood pressure can also help protect your heart as well as your brain.

#3. Eat healthy foods

Eating healthy foods helps keep your blood pressure low, keeps your cholesterol low, improves your cardiovascular health, helps you feel happier, and increases your brain’s health. In other words, you will feel better overall. Researchers have also concluded that diet is a major factor in preventing Alzheimer’s disease.

Replace some of the unhealthy foods in your diet with these better options:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Leafy greens
• Lean meats
• Whole grains

4. Be physically active

Physical activity can make your brain stronger, too. Physical activity is not limited to traditional exercise – it can also be household chores, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking in the farthest spot from the store.

A few good reasons to stay physically active for your brain include:

• You can maintain and improve your strength.
• The more active you are, the more energy you will retain.
• You can improve your balance.
• You can delay or prevent cardiovascular and respiratory issues.
• Physical activity releases endorphins that help make you happier and reduce stress.

5. Keep your mind active

A huge part of brain health is keeping your mind active as much as possible. People who do meaningful things each day and use their brains to solve problems retain more of their cognitive health than those who do not. Reading books and magazines, solving puzzles, playing games, or teaching a class can help.

6. Stay connected with social activities

Volunteering, hosting parties, planning outings, or spending time with family and friends are all great ways to stay connected with social activities. A busy social life helps improve your mental health and keeps your mind active.

7. Manage stress  

Stress takes a major toll on the brain and can also cause problems with your physical health (such as cardiovascular events) and mental health (such as depression). Manage your stress by learning different relaxation techniques, talking about your mental health, and trying to be more positive in your thinking and reactions.

8. Reduce risks to your cognitive health

If there are genetic factors that could be a risk to your cognitive health, talk to your doctor about how to prevent them. Treat head injuries immediately, and monitor any changes in your thinking or your behavior.

9. Limit alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs

Alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs have adverse effects on the body and the brain. Alcohol and nicotine especially can harm cardiovascular and physical health. Brain health can be severely damaged by drug use, especially when the person has a substance use disorder. If you cannot stop drinking, using tobacco, or using drugs, talk to your doctor right away. To protect your brain, treatment is a must.

10. Get enough sleep

Sleep is how your brain and body get the rest they need. Your brain requires rest to function. Sleep is also imperative to keeping you physically healthy and cognitively sound. Talk to your doctor if you are suffering from a lack of sleep for any reason.

Your brain is the most important organ in your body and cannot be replaced. Therefore, it’s imperative that you maintain your brain health, especially as you age. Part of maintaining your brain health is to limit alcohol and drug use. If you are worried about your brain health but can’t stop using alcohol or drugs on your own, it’s time to ask for help. RECO Intensive is here for you. At RECO Intensive, we understand that the changes formed by addiction in the brain may seem impossible to overcome. We can treat your addiction with a catered treatment plan created specifically for your needs. Our professional staff and experienced alumni can also guide you through therapy and other treatment options. It’s hard to admit that addiction has changed you, but you can still change for the better with some help. Call us today at (561) 464-6533. Let’s get back to a brighter future.