Senior Brain Health: Five Secrets for Success
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month!
Studies from the Alzheimer’s Society show that physical exercise can help reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. And we know that staying physically active is important as we get older, for all sorts of great reasons. But there’s no doubt that exercising our minds is also crucial for our brain health.
• Maintain an Overall Healthy Lifestyle
One of the best things you can do for your brain is to strive for a heart-healthy lifestyle. This means eating lots of fruits and vegetables, exercising, managing stress, limiting alcohol and managing blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure. Some of the best foods for brain health include oily fish (sardines, tuna, salmon, for example) blueberries, broccoli, dark chocolate and nuts.
• Puzzle Over This
Whether you enjoy jigsaw puzzles, pinochle, find-a-word puzzles, board games or sudoku, games and puzzles have been proven to help prevent dementia, improve memory and help with focus and brain speed. The goal is to stimulate problem-solving and enhance reasoning functions. Daily newspapers usually contain a variety of puzzles. You can pick up a few books (often available in large print) at the local discount store. Another option is to visit the AARP website for their free daily online crossword puzzles which are offered to “help keep you on your toes.”
• Swap Hands
Experts say that if you’re right-handed you might try daily tasks like brushing your teeth with your left hand. The Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center also suggests turning clocks upside down as well as starting new hobbies, like learning to play a musical instrument. What seems to work best is anything that helps one “think in a different way.”
• Cut Back on TV
Relaxing in front of the television may seem innocuous. But a study published in Scientific Reports shows that too much TV can be detrimental to our brain health. Researchers from University College London concluded that watching more than 3.5 hours of television a day was associated with a decline in memory and language in adults over age 50.
• Even More Ways to Train Your Brain
• Sign up for Zoom education classes
• Join your children or grandchildren in a video game
• Learn a foreign language
• Work out math in your head instead of with a calculator
• Try to memorize lists
Help for Memory Care Patients at Home
Blue Bell, Pennsylvania’s Reliance Home Health Care can help families in the greater Philadelphia area who have loved ones with neurological issues like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. We have specialized staff who are trained and certified to help individuals with memory impairment, right in the comfort of home. For more information, contact us at 610-896-6030 or email info@reliancehomehealth.com.
