Question: Is there anything I can do to keep my brain healthy in older age?
Answer: It is increasingly clear that how we live our lives on a day-to-day basis strongly influences how well our brain ages.
Naturally, our genetic make-up also plays a role in brain health, but the lifestyle choices we make throughout life are also very important.
Many studies have tracked older adults’ activities and habits to determine what distinguishes people who retain good mental faculties into old age from those who fare less well.
Some of the most important characteristics are:
- Staying mentally active by engaging the brain in stimulating and challenging activities that force us to use our brain in novel ways;
- Staying physically active through regular exercise (e.g., 30 minutes or more of brisk walking three times a week) or by pursuing active leisure activities that get you out and moving;
- Having a sense of effectiveness in the world and control over our lives, including feeling that we contribute to our families and/or society, and feeling good about ourselves;
- We have to maintain a strong network of social connections, including regular contact with friends, family, and other people in our community and beyond.
Scientists have also uncovered interesting correlations between heart health and brain health.
Many of the things we associate with hearthealthy living are also good for the brain.
See also: How Long Does Human Brain Develop?
In addition to exercise, this includes keeping weight, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels in check; managing stress so that it doesn’t overwhelm us; and eating a healthy diet with plenty of antioxidant vitamins (especially vitamins A, C, and E, found in many fruits and vegetables) and omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish like swordfish, salmon, tuna, and mackerel).
The above-mentioned brain-healthy lifestyle strongly influence our memory and learning abilities even when we age.
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source: The Dana Foundation
