How to Support Brain Health

The health of our brains remains a priority throughout our lives, but the ways we support brain health evolve as we age. Like many other aspects of our overall well-being, brain health requires a comprehensive approach, from the foods we eat to the daily exercises we incorporate into our routines. It’s also critical for seniors to look after their brain health, especially if they’re predisposed to dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other memory-related conditions.

What Influences Brain Health?

It can be challenging to define brain health with all the tasks our brains help us accomplish, even just one minute to the next. However, we can break aspects of brain health down into five distinct categories:

Cognitive function: Our ability to think, learn, and remember
Motor function: Movements and balance
Emotional function: The emotions we feel
Tactical function: Experiences associated with the sense of touch
Sensory function: Additional senses, including sight, smell, taste, and hearing

Addressing each of these aspects can help support overall brain health. Read on to find out how you can incorporate healthy habits to support your brain.

5 Ways to Support Brain Health

Supporting brain health begins with identifying what your body needs to function each day. Here are five ways you can strengthen your brain health, regardless of age.

1. Focus On Your Diet

Eating healthy foods ensures your body and your brain get the nutrients they need to function correctly. Tomatoes, dark and leafy greens, salmon, nuts and seeds, brown rice, green tea, and dark chocolate are just a few brain foods you can incorporate into your diet.

2. Prioritize Sleep

Scheduling and adhering to a sleep routine can do more for your brain than you might think. With so much going on to stimulate our brains, taking time to wind down and prepare for rest will not only help you get to sleep faster but also enjoy a more restorative sleep.

3. Stay Mentally Active

Challenging our brains throughout our lives can help build new neural pathways and expand our creativity. Using your brain to conquer crossword puzzles, sudoku, or even complex math problems helps keep your brain sharp and focused.

4. Socialize

Humans are social animals, so it’s no wonder socializing with others can help support our brains. Friends, family members, and new acquaintances stimulate our brains in many ways, whether debating topics we’re passionate about or sharing news that affects our worlds.

5. Manage Stress

Although stress can sometimes be healthy for our minds, prolonged exposure to stressful situations often proves detrimental. Finding ways to reduce our stress and take pleasure in happy and joyful moments supports our brain health across multiple spectrums.

Supporting Haverhill Seniors With Compassionate Care

Right at Home Haverhill supports local seniors in multiple aspects of their health, including brain health. We connect Haverhill seniors with resources they can use to support their minds, including the following blog posts:

If you’d like to learn more about how Right at Home Haverhill supports seniors in successfully and comfortably aging in place and supporting their brain health, contact us to schedule a free consultation. Our caregivers are experienced in Alzheimer’s, cognitive, and dementia care and caring for adults with disabilities. Rely on Right at Home Haverhill for the skills and expertise your senior loved one needs to improve their quality of life.