Never Too Early or Too Late for Brain Health

Becky Meisenheimer, CDP® CMDCP®, Dementia Education Coordinator

As care partners we look after others, but encouraging them to improve their brain health alongside us will be a benefit to everyone. This past year, there has been a significant increase in resources on the evidence-based importance of all age groups to protect cognitive functions such as thinking, problem-solving, learning, and memory abilities. In the past, just those who have a family history of dementia would consider the importance of healthy brain habits, but the current goal across many health agencies is to consistently share more scientific information so more individuals will see the benefits of good brain health habits.

Many of the suggested brain health habits follow along with good cardiovascular habits such as eating better, maintaining a healthy weight, exercise, stop smoking, controlling blood pressure, reducing your chance for diabetes, and getting plenty of rest.

What does that look like?

• Diet changes of eating leaner meats, increasing vegetables and limiting highly processed foods.

• Ask your care provider about what a healthy weight is for you.

• Find more ways to increase movement each day like walking, gardening, swimming, sports, even dancing.

• Quitting smoking can lower the risk of cognitive decline to the same ratio of those who have never smoked.

• Work with your care provider to control your blood pressure to safe levels, even if that means medication.

• Make your sleeping environment conducive to good quality sleep.

In addition, it is important to prevent head injuries by wearing a seatbelt while in a car, a helmet when bicycling/skateboarding, and reducing fall risks for our older population. Challenge your mind with continual learning, reading and playing games. There are some great, free brain-training apps that are designed to support cognitive skills. BrainHQ targets memory, attention, and processing speed. Elevate focuses on reading, language, writing, speaking and math skills. The Alzheimer's Association at alz.org has a (re)think your brain 6-Step Challenge to teach positive everyday actions within your lifestyle to help lower the risk of dementia. This initiative is a proven program, designed to expand how people understand brain health and how to care for their brains.

Just like overseeing our hearts and bodies, it is never too early or too late to start good brain health habits. Being a Care Partner means we care for others and ourselves.

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