“The best way to treat dementia…is not to get it.” A friend of mine shared this with me. He works with the Alzheimer’s Association and participates in research projects and clinical studies to understand dementia and learn new ways to treat the varied types.
This statement led me to look into how we can incorporate healthy habits supporting our brain. Of course, the Alzheimer’s Association has a ton of information. Here are a couple of thoughts on building these healthy habits into your life.
One healthy activity is never stopping learning. The old adage “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is simply not true. Education is not just for young people. Participating in formal classes will help reduce your risk of cognitive decline. If you are worried about affording a class, and who isn’t, consider a class at a local community center. Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield offers tuition-free classes for adults over 60. If you have mobility issues, consider taking an online class. If these options still don’t hit the sweet spot, check out the offerings at your local senior center. Many centers offer evidence-based courses on a variety of subjects.
Another healthy activity to assist you in your brain health is to give up the smokes. We all know that smoking cigarettes can lead to health issues like lung cancer or COPD, but smoking also affects your brain. Smoking can cause the brain to shrink (not sure I can afford that), cause the cerebral cortex to thin (I want to get thin but not in my brain!), and leave you at risk of a stroke or cognitive decline (that doesn’t sound good at all!) Even if you have smoked for decades, quitting has a lot of health and financial benefits.
These are just a couple of suggestions. Keep your brain healthy, and let’s explore this a bit more next month.
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