How to give your cranium a good work out
Do you think you're bound to lose your memory when you're older? Whether or not you do, there are things you can do now to stave off memory loss and stimulate your brain for wellness.
Age-related memory loss is not inevitable. In fact, Dr. Randy Schiffer, neuropsychiatrist and director for the Center for Brain Health at the Cleveland Clinic reports that there are people whose brains probably do not deteriorate at all as they advance into their 70s and 80s.
"Although some things wear down or get weaker as we age, many things in cognition do get better as we age and that isn't talked about much," explains Dr. Schiffer.
Your brain can get better with age
So if you remain healthy as you age, you may look forward to the following improvements in how your brain works:
-making wise choices
-inhibiting emotional responses
-prioritizing and;
-focusing
"You can lump these things under the category of wisdom, or experience," suggests Dr. Schiffer.
How to improve your memory
If memory loss is associated with Alzheimer's Disease, there are drugs doctors can prescribe to slow the progress of the disease. But for most of us, there are things you can do to help to reduce memory loss and stimulate thought processes.
The choices you make and habits you cultivate in midlife might help slow or prevent memory issues as you age. "People who take care of themselves in their 40s and 50s often seem to have milder memory loss syndromes and less deterioration later in life," says Dr. Schiffer.
Here's how to cut your risk of age-related memory loss:
1. Stimulate your brain. The old use-it-or-lose-it adage applies here. "Challenge yourself," says Scott Dudgeon CEO for the Alzheimer's Society (Canada). "If this morning's crossword puzzle was a piece of cake, do the New York Times' puzzle tomorrow."
2. As much as possible, control your heart risks such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. "Everything that's healthy for your heart is healthy for your brain," explains Dr.Schiffer.
3. Eat well. Follow Canada's Food Guide and sample some tasty brain-healthy recipes (many high in omega-3 fatty acids, leafy green vegetables, low in saturated fats and low sodium) like those from the Alzheimer Society's website.
4. Exercise. Keep physically fit. "We now know that, even if you have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, exercising can delay the progress of the disease and reduce the impact of the symptoms," says Dudgeon.
5. Socialize. "People who have led isolated lives, particularly in later years, often have minds that don't get challenged," says Dudgeon. "They don't have to think about how to respond to things."
Although it's never too early to start these brain-healthy habits, it's also never too late.
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