8 Ways to Help Improve Your Brain Health

Alzheimer's is a type of Dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior, affecting a person's ability to carry out daily activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of Dementia. Research is ongoing to determine the causes of Alzheimer's disease. Still, scientists agree that the causes probably include several factors like changes in the brain related to aging and other genetics, the environment, and lifestyle. This tells us that a host of factors beyond genetics may play a role in the development and course of Alzheimer's disease. 

There is a great deal of interest in the relationship between cognitive decline and vascular conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, as well as metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Although age is the best-known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, there is growing scientific evidence that healthy behaviors may reduce the risk for cognitive decline:

1. Quit Smoking —Quitting smoking improves one's health and reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses. 
2. Prevent and Manage High Blood Pressure —A healthier heart is connected to a healthier brain. Aggressively treating high blood pressure in older adults can help reduce the development of mild cognitive impairment, or MCI.
3. Prevent and Manage High Cholesterol— As we get older, more things affect our health making it less easy to understand how high cholesterol vs. other conditions influences our overall health and impact cognitive function.
4. Maintain a Healthy Weight— Evidence suggests early to mid-adulthood obesity may negatively impact cognitive functioning. Keeping your weight in the normal range is integral to healthy aging.
5. Get Enough Sleep— Getting enough hours of high-quality sleep fosters attention and concentration, a prerequisite for most learning. Sleep also supports numerous other aspects of thinking, including memory, problem-solving, creativity, emotional processing, and judgment.
6. Stay Engaged— Studies link social participation to a lower risk of cognitive decline. There are many ways for older adults to get involved and volunteer in their community. 
7. Manage Blood Sugar— It's essential to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy target range to help prevent serious health problems; lower blood sugar levels are associated with better brain health.
8. If You Drink, Do So in Moderation— Drinking too much alcohol over a long time can cause some older people to be forgetful and confused—these symptoms could be mistaken for signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Related Content: Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be rewarding yet challenging. In this video, Dr. Alexis Abramson discusses tips and guidance for those who are caring for a family.

Comfort Keepers^® can help. 

We have compassionate in-home caregivers who are specially trained to work with a family member who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Call your local Comfort Keepers® office to discover all the services we can provide for your loved one. 

References
Alzheimer’s Association - What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
WebMD - Do Seniors Need Less Sleep?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Manage Blood Sugar
WebMD - Are High Cholesterol Levels Bad for Older People?
National Institute on Aging - Facts About Aging and Alcohol
National Institute on Aging - Maintaining a Healthy Weight
National Institute on Aging - What Causes Alzheimer's Disease?
Daily Herald - Five ways to promote brain health, slow cognitive decline
Cambridge University Press - The relationship between obesity and cognitive health and decline