Would you like to improve your cognition and memory, especially as you age? There are very practical ways to increase the potential of your brain and to ward off neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Your neurologist at Hudson MD Group can show you how to have a healthier, more vibrant brain for life.
Your Marvelous Brain Needs Your Attention and Care
Your marvelous brain really is what makes you the person that you are. It controls all your bodily processes, your movements, how you think and even your personality. As we age, there is some decline in the brain’s ability to think quickly, learn new things and to remember events. This happens naturally, just as our hair grays, skin thins, and we lose some bone and muscle mass.
However, the brain has amazing plasticity–that is, it continues throughout life to learn, remember and react to change. That said, it’s very important to stimulate the brain and the entire nervous system. You can do so through healthy lifestyle practices which leverage and improve upon the brain’s tremendous abilities. Here are just some which your neurologist in New Jersey recommends.
Get the Right Amount of Sleep
Seven to eight hours of quality, restful sleep allows your brain to recalibrate and to sort through and store the day’s activities as memories. Try your best to limit your screen time as it interrupts all important REM sleep, and have your sleep partner take note of any snoring. Snoring is a sign of sleep apnea which can impact your daytime cognition and memory.
Make Exercise a Habit
Regular, light to moderate aerobic exercise, such as walking, cycling or swimming, keeps the blood flowing through your body, including your brain. Physical activity also releases mood-lifting brain chemicals called endorphins. Move more and you will think more clearly and creatively, and your memory will improve.
Keep Track of Important Measures of Health and Wellness
Know your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose levels. These measures of physical health impact brain function and maintain blood flow important to overall bodily function, memory and cognition. When we take care of our physical health, we are taking care of our mental well-being, too. Keeping track of these important health and wellness measures will help identify any potential health issues so you can take proactive steps to improve your overall wellness.
To maintain good “numbers,” adopt the Mediterranean diet, proven to improve cardiovascular and neurological health. This way of eating includes:
- Plant-based menu choices
- Healthy fats, such as olive oil
- Whole grains
- Plenty of water
- Fish and poultry
- Limited red meat, processed foods and sugar
Avoid All Tobacco and Limit Your Intake of Alcohol
If you smoke, ask your primary care physician for monitored ways to quit this habit which adversely impacts your brain circulation, thinking and memory. Also, if you indulge in alcohol, restrict how much you drink. Women should have no more than one serving per day and men, no more than two.
Avoid Social Isolation, Develop Friendships and Stay Mentally Active
Few things are worse for your brain health than social isolation and loneliness. So, be sure to maintain friendships, join a gym or hobby-related group, and get out into the world as much as you are able. You will avoid depression and anxiety and maintain the connections which improve brain activity and mood.
Also, challenge your brain with reading, puzzles or learning a new craft. Avoid too much screen time as it disrupts your sleep and simply is too passive to do your brain any good. Instead, engage in activities that require problem-solving and critical thinking. Even developing new manual skills, such as knitting, flower arranging and woodworking, will help keep your brain sharp and active.
Your Board-certified Neurologists in New Jersey
At Hudson MD Group, we have assembled a highly qualified and patient-centered team of neurologists. They perform a wide range of diagnostic services, including EEGs, CT and PET scans, deep brain stimulation and more. They help patients deal with stroke, dementia, migraines, multiple sclerosis and other diseases and conditions of the central nervous system, brain and spinal cord.
If you would like to know more about our services, please contact us for an in-depth consultation by calling (973) 705-4914, or request your visit here. We are privileged to serve both children and adults in multiple clinic locations. Let us help you be brain-healthy for life!
