| Maintain Your Brain |
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| June 2007 | |
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When most people think about getting healthy, they think about getting into better physical shape: losing weight and working out. What most people don’t think about is maintaining a healthy brain. Staying healthy is as much about improving your brain as it is about improving your abs, and young or old, it is never too early or too late to start. There is no denying that uncontrollable factors like age and heredity greatly influence brain health. If a parent or a sibling has Alzheimer’s disease it increases your risk. Further, ten percent of people older than 65 and nearly 50 percent of people older than 85 have Alzheimer’s disease. But still, with just small changes in lifestyle, brain health and your body’s overall health can be improved, and more importantly, these changes may help to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia. Vascular dementia results from reduced blood flow to the brain’s nerve cells, and some studies suggest that among people of Asian descent vascular dementia occurs at a rate higher than Alzheimer’s. Mixed dementia is when both vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s are present. The first step in maintaining your brain is staying physically active. Dr. Patricio Reyes, director of the Barrow Neurological Institute of Alzheimer’s Research Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, says avoiding head trauma, diet and exercise are all positive ways to maintain the brain. Physical exercise “pumps up” the brain by improving oxygen consumption, promoting blood flow to the organ and reducing the loss of brain cells. Nutrition is also important. Dr. Reyes says foods like spinach, blueberries, pomegranates and avocados are all high in antioxidants, and can prevent the generation of too many cells because of their high antioxidant content. A diet low in cholesterol and fat, and high in antioxidants promotes blood flow to the brain and reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Mental activity increases sharpness and social activities encourage brain vitals. A team sport or a game of tennis can combine social interaction with exercise, promoting positive brain activity. Mental activity also helps reduce stress and helps maintain healthy connections between brain cells. Mental exercises such as foreign languages, puzzles and even Nintendo games all stimulate the brain, according to Dr. Reyes. So, get together with friends and figure out a crossword puzzle, sketch each others profiles or learn a foreign language. When vascular dementia is a specific concern, Dr. Reyes adds that taking preventive measures against hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes is also important. Whatever your age, concern or genetic predisposition, it is important to take notice of your brain and learn to feed it via stimulation, nutrition and exercise. These simple lifestyle tips can have positive effects not only on the brain, but on the body as a whole. *This article was compiled from information provided by and with the help of the Alzheimer's Association. Please contact Mika Kondo, a family care consultant with the Desert Southwest Chapter who specializes in Asian outreach, at . To find the chapter office closest to you or for further information, call 800.272.3900. Three Ways to Promote a Healthy Brain
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