Forgot where you left your texbook yesterday? Or maybe you left your assignment at home in your haste? It happens. With all the responsibility and things to accomplish, we probably tend to get forgetful sometimes. Do not worry because this is not conclusive for Alzheimer’s disease or any type of dementia.
Dementia is an illness that makes our brain develop a difficulty in remembering or communicating. Terminal situations are when the patient loses her or his capacity to take care of herself or himself. This normally requires at least six months to be fully recognized and diagnosed. 2007 Alzherimer’s Association report estimated that more than 5 million Americans are suffering from this disease.
Scientists are still trying to unravel the many mysteries of the brain – how it process and retain information. How it ages and how diseases like Dementia or Alzheimer’s develop. It could also help us determine how we could keep it healthy.
Here are some tips on how we could take care of our brain;
1 – Eat healthy foods: Fatty and heavily processed foods can acquire a negative effect in our brains synapses. Synapses are important for learning and memory. Foods that can boost synapses are balance diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids found in salmon, walnuts and kiwi fruits.
2 – Exercise: Exercise is a mild stressor to our body, eating up energy and releasing the chemicals called growth factors that make the brain’s neurons stronger and healthier. Stretching can also reduce stress, giving a positive impact on the memory centres of our brain.
3 – Mind Benders: Work on your brain also through brainteasers, crossword and memory games. Studies shows that being mentally active can reduce the risks of developing dementia.
4 – Memory tricks: Simple mind control by storing and retaining our memory banks.
5 – Rest well: Sleep gives our brain the chance to replay the memories of the day and consolidate them for long term storage. Studies shows that our brain can do its reviewing and re-winding much faster when we are asleep than when we are awake.
None of the above tips are fool-proof because in some cases, Dementia could be hereditary as well. For now, no one can really predict who will and who won’t develop dementia. While scientists are working on indicators and cures, the best option on our end is to keep our body and brain healthy.
