Maintaining our health and strength is a priority as we grow older. We may incorporate a balanced diet, spend time at the gym, or spend more time outside in the sun and fresh air in an effort to do so. However, many of the bad habits we don’t consider today can have serious consequences and increase our chances of dementia and Alzheimer’s later in life.
Here are just a few of the negative habits many of us have that can seriously impact our brain health.
Lack of Sleep
Doctors have noted that as many as 15% of dementia and Alzheimer’s cases can be attributed to a lack of sleep. A good night’s sleep is when your neurons work to repair any damage or stress you suffered, and robbing yourself of sleep can mean those damages go unrepaired.
Do yourself a favor by going to bed earlier in the evening or visiting your doctor or pharmacist for any remedies to alleviate your insomnia or sleep problems.
Excessive Alcohol Intake
Having a glass of wine when going out with your friends is a wonderful way to unwind at the end of the week and create lasting memories, but doing this multiple times a week in larger doses isn’t just doing damage to your liver, it’s compromising the long-term health of your brain.
Studies show that excessive alcohol abuse can lead to the development of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, a condition where patients experience memory loss and cognitive decline.
Smoking
Everybody knows the dangers that smoking tobacco poses to your cardiovascular health and the increased risk of developing cancer, but did you know that smoking can also lead to serious damage to the brain?
Smoking limits the oxygen that can enter your bloodstream and can even put dangerous toxins in their place, meaning your brain can be starved of crucial oxygen and be put at greater risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Too Much Saturated Fats
Whether eating at home or at a fancy restaurant, saturated fats are in most of the foods we cook and are hard to escape.
To avoid this danger, try taking in more good fats over the course of the day to help with brain growth, such as omega-3s in fish and nuts or unsaturated fats in vegetables.
Social Isolation
They say no man is an island, and that is definitely true when it comes to our mental health. We thrive in societies and our days are immeasurably improved by a visit from a friend or a call with a loved one.
With age, we tend to spend more time at home for one reason or another, but a lack of social activity can create dangerous proteins that have been linked to Alzheimer’s and dementia. So put on your shoes, grab your coat, and call up a friend for a fun night out tonight.
Many of us don’t realize that the simple choices we make during the day can have lasting impacts on our body’s health. Luckily, fixing these mistakes can be just as easy and incredibly rewarding! For more ways to keep your brain strong and healthy, give our staff a call today at (904) 829 6479 or visit us and see how you can keep building memories for years to come.