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What is “Brain Health”? A healthy brain is one that is functionally independent. According to Dr. Gilda Ennis, a healthy brain is one that “allows people to behave, think, feel, and generally function in a way that [allows them] to take care of themselves and others”. Dr. Taryn James puts it this way: “There are 3 Ms of major brain function: memory, movement, and mood. A healthy brain is one where these are all functioning well”.
What are some steps people can take to keep their brain healthy and prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease? A 2020 report by the Lancet Commission shows that there are both modifiable risk factors (things you are able to change) and non-modifiable risk factors (things we don’t have control over, like our genetics). Modifiable risk factors account for 40% of worldwide dementias and include: lower education level, high blood pressure, hearing impairment, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, low social contact, excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and air pollution.
According to Dr. Carol Van Hulle, there’s a lot we don’t yet understand about brain changes that lead to dementia but we can all take steps at every age to manage the things we can control. “What we know for certain is that healthy lifestyle habits appear to slow cognitive decline,” says Dr. Van Hulle, “which then delays the onset of mild cognitive impairment and dementia”.
Researcher recommendations: 1) stop smoking (if you do), 2) reduce your alcohol consumption (if you drink), and 3) get good sleep.
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