Are you using it or lost it? Maintain brain health can be a tough business especially in this day and age due to the limitations of modern life style. Instead of challenging our brain, we are making it lazy and the consequences can be dire. A mind that doesn’t ‘exercise’ can shrink, lead to cognitive decline and also increase risk Alzheimer. Our eating habits can also have an impact as foods high in sugar and calories can lead to brain inflammation. Besides, the use of alcohol and drugs can cause premature loss of brain tissue leading to premature aging of the brain. (See the photos: 6 signs that your brain is aging)
As for Alzheimer’s, it is thought to be caused by an abnormal accumulation of proteins in and around brain cells. Amyloid, one protein, forms plaques around brain cells, while another can form tangles in brain cells. This process can begin as early as age 40, i.e. early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Anyone with a stressful, sedentary, and unhealthy lifestyle may be at risk for early Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. When brain health starts to deteriorate, people don’t really get the joy out of life and it seems like a burden. To avoid the risk of these brain diseases, one must make healthy lifestyle changes.
Dr Mazhar Abbas Turabi, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Masina Hospital, Byculla, Mumbai tells HT Digital about the harmful habits that can put us at risk of Alzheimer’s and also how we can can change their lifestyle.
Harmful Habits That Can Cause ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
1. Having a sedentary lifestyle: A sedentary lifestyle and insufficient exercise will definitely slow down brain activity as well as contribute to many lifestyle diseases. Exercise offers a number of benefits that help fight cognitive problems beyond being necessary to keep our brains healthy and sharp as we age. They increase heart rate, release feel-good endorphins and – most importantly – promote blood flow to the brain, which helps maintain brain health.
2. Not getting enough sleep: Lack of sleep can cause daytime sleepiness and can impair your productivity and ability to focus. Long-term inadequate sleep can increase levels of a protein in your brain called Tau, which is directly linked to cognitive decline and can cause Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Dehydration: Normally, it is recommended to drink 8 glasses of water a day because our body is made up of 70% water. Therefore, not drinking enough water or consuming liquid foods can cause dehydration, causing dementia.
4. Drug and alcohol useDrinking too much alcohol over long periods of time can damage your brain and increase your risk of dementia. Moderate drinking is not clearly associated with an increased risk of dementia, nor has it been shown to be much protective against dementia.
5. Poor Diet: Reduce intake of high saturated fats like cheeseburgers, red meat, etc as they are known to increase the risk of cognitive problems. Instead, replace these foods with fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals.
HEALTHY Habits for BRAIN
To keep our brain healthy, we should try to follow these tips:
– Healthy eating
– Abstain from alcohol and drugs
– Take a break from work and enjoy yourself
– Take time to see your family
– Exercise and yoga
– Prevent stress
