Many of us monitor our blood pressure, heart rate and sleep. Far fewer of us stop to check our memory, concentration, and thinking.
Experts say it’s a missed opportunity and that we should give our brains the kind of routine attention we give our hearts and other organs. This simple change can make a real difference as we age.
“We should really think about brain health the same way we think about heart health,” Davide Cappon, chair of the department of neuropsychology at Tufts Medical Center, told HuffPost. “We check our blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar regularly, but how often do we actually talk about our memory or thoughts during a regular doctor’s visit? I think we should make these conversations much more common, especially as we get older.”
Staying aware of how our brain works is crucial, which means paying attention to changes and being proactive about brain health.
“Continue to challenge yourself, stay engaged, make brain health part of your regular checkups, and pay attention to changes in your memory or thinking,” Cappon said. “And don’t hesitate to raise your concerns with your doctor.”
Detecting changes early can make a big difference in diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
“If a disease develops, recognizing it early gives us more opportunity to intervene, optimize treatment and potentially slow its progression,” Cappon said.
Even if you haven’t noticed any changes, that doesn’t mean you should wait to take care of your brain.
“Staying physically active, eating well, getting enough sleep, staying socially connected, having a sense of purpose, and managing issues like high blood pressure and diabetes are all important and can all help reduce the risk of cognitive decline,” Cappon said.
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Dr. Majid Fotuhi, a neurologist and assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University, sees real reason for optimism because we have the power to support our brains.
He pointed to the 2024 Lancet Commission on Dementia, which estimated that 45% of global dementia cases could potentially be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors.
“In my opinion, the five pillars of brain health are exercise, sleep, diet, stress reduction and brain training,” Fotouhi said. “The brain is like a muscle: it responds to the way we treat it, at any age. »
Cappon also encouraged people to continue to challenge their minds throughout their lives.
“We often talk about what’s called cognitive reserve, which is basically the brain’s ability to cope with aging and disease,” he explained. “One way to help build this reserve is to continue to learn and challenge ourselves. »
“I like to tell people to get out of ‘autopilot mode’ from time to time,” he added. “When everything we do becomes familiar and easy, we don’t really challenge ourselves to learn something new. Try learning a new language, picking up an instrument, or doing something that pushes you a little out of your comfort zone. The idea is to stay curious and continue to learn throughout life.”
There are many resources with tips and ideas for promoting brain health, including the “10 Healthy Habits for Your Brain” leaflet on the Alzheimer’s Association website.
Dr. Michael Stanley, a neurologist at Tufts Medical Center, recommended participating in brain-stimulating activities with friends and family.
“Some people go to the gym alone, but most go with a buddy,” he said. “Take this advice and undertake these brain-sparing interventions together by learning a language, an instrument, taking an improv class, a dance class – develop a plan together to enrich your cognitive milieu and stick to it.”
Social ties are particularly linked to living longer. So what’s good for our brains is generally good for our overall health and longevity.
“We can actually do a lot to reduce our risk of cognitive decline and build our resilience as we age,” Cappon said. “We shouldn’t wait until something goes wrong to start taking care of our brains.”
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