What Is Brain Health? Understanding the Full Picture as We Age
For seniors in Marietta, GA, brain health is essential for functioning well in daily life. Fortunately, there are many ways to stay mentally sharp as we age. However, the tricky thing about brain health is that we all experience age-related cognitive decline differently.
Some seniors maintain high cognitive functioning well into their old age. Other seniors' brains age more rapidly, often due to specific diseases.
To know why this happens, we first need to ask ourselves: What is brain health? This guide will provide the answers you need and offer a few tips on how to keep your brain healthy!
What Is Brain Health?
Brain health refers to how well your brain works across several different areas. The essential aspects of brain health include:
- Cognitive health: the ability to think, remember, and learn
- Emotional function: the ability to interpret and respond to emotions
- Motor function: the ability to make and control movements
- Sensory function: the ability to see, hear, smell, and taste
- Tactile function: the ability to feel and respond to touch
To some extent, everyone's brain health is affected by age-related changes. That said, it can also be affected by disease, such as dementia and Alzheimer's. Injuries and mood disorders can also play a part in brain-related challenges.
How Does the Brain Age?
Much like our bodies, our brains change in many ways as we get older. These changes aren't as pronounced, but we can still group them into four categories.
Cognitive Changes
Aging involves a gradual decline of your cognitive abilities, particularly memory-related ones. Procedural memories, such as knowing how to do well-practiced activities, are largely unaffected, but declarative and working memories are not.
A declarative memory is a memory you can consciously retrieve, such as a word you should know. Working memory is the ability to retain information for a few seconds. A poor working memory negatively affects problem-solving.
Structural Changes
Some areas of your physical brain will shrink as you grow older. The cerebral cortex, for example, will thin with age, especially in the temporal and frontal lobes. Other regions of your brain that tend to shrink with age are:
- Prefrontal cortex
- Hippocampus
- Cerebellum
Neuronal Changes
The structural changes naturally lead to neuronal changes. In particular, neurons start to lose connections between each other across synapses. Your brain's ability to recreate neurons also declines, creating a net loss of brain matter.
Chemical Changes
Aging brains send fewer messenger chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine. The reduced neuron production contributes to this process. The decline of these chemicals can have effects on your memory and emotions.
How to Keep Your Brain Healthy?
Though there's no stopping your brain from aging, there are a few ways to reduce your risk of additional cognitive decline. Here are some examples:
Manage High Blood Pressure
Studies show that having high blood pressure increases the risk of cognitive clarity issues. The SPRINT-MIND study, in particular, showed that lowering systolic blood pressure to under 120 mmHg reduces the risk of cognitive impairment.
This is just one of many reasons why seniors should monitor their blood pressure. Keep in mind that high blood pressure usually causes no symptoms until it has caused major damage. Some key indicators include:
- Chest pain
- Severe headaches
- Changes in vision
- Shortness of breath
Enjoy Social Activities
Staying connected with your friends and family is one of the best ways to improve your mental wellness. Beyond warding off loneliness and depression, regular socialization boosts cognitive function and reduces the risk of dementia.
This is also why living in a senior community can do wonders for your social life. These communities tend to have a stacked activity calendar, providing plenty of opportunities to enjoy a sense of community with other residents.
Keep Your Mind Engaged
Cognitive training holds plenty of benefits for your memory and focus. Something as simple as doing a daily crossword can delay memory decline by over two years. Other logic games, such as chess and Sudoku, have a similar impact.
Staying engaged in other meaningful activities is another key part of growing older. Learning a new hobby, for instance, helps create new neural connections. Active writing and reading also stimulate your memory and imagination.
Eat Healthy Foods
Some studies draw a connection between a healthy diet and senior brain support. For example, a Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of dementia. A balanced diet prioritizes nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods, such as:
- Fatty fish
- Nuts and seeds
- Leafy green vegetables
- Low-fat dairy products
- Lean meats
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know if My Brain Is Healthy?
A healthy brain displays active social abilities and effective problem-solving skills. Getting restful, high-quality sleep is another indicator that your brain works fine. If you're worried about your cognitive ability, it's best to talk to your doctor.
What Kills Brain Cells the Most?
Chronic stress is among the most common culprits of sustained brain cell death. Stress creates high levels of cortisol, which damages your hippocampus and inhibits the production of new neurons. Other potential culprits include:
- Lack of sleep
- Unbalanced diet
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Excessive alcohol consumption
Can Medications Affect Brain Health?
Yes, some medications or combinations of medications can cause memory loss and confusion. Medications can also have brain-altering interactions with food and other substances. Some drugs that may impair your condition include:
- Sleep aids
- Muscle relaxants
- Antihistamines
- Drugs for urinary incontinence
What Vitamin Cuts Dementia Risk?
Recent studies show that vitamins can have a major effect on aging brain function. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), in particular, can reduce the risk of dementia by up to 49%, according to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation. Vitamins B6 and B9 may also be key contributors.
Senior Brain Health in Marietta, GA
So, what is brain health? In essence, it's a state of optimal functioning across many domains.
At Greenwood Place Assisted Living & Memory Care, we can help you maintain your cognitive health. Our assisted living community offers a variety of social activities for everyone to enjoy, from outings at local Marietta, GA, restaurants to rousing games of mahjong!
We're also a member of Discovery Senior Living, which ranks #1 in customer satisfaction among assisted living communities in the U.S. Contact us now to learn what we do to keep our residents active and healthy!