Take Care of Your Brain

You’ve seen articles about declining mental sharpness as one ages. Tips on keeping mentally sharp include crossword puzzles and other games, exercise, and getting out socially. But do these activities really help?

“Yes, is the answer,” says Dr. Sandeep Walia, a Washington Health neurologist. “Your brain is the most powerful organ you have. It’s what makes you the person you are — your thoughts, your memories, and your decisions. And just as we take care of our hearts or joints as we age, our brain needs our attention too.”

Dr. Walia will discuss ways to support cognitive function as one ages and how to recognize early signs of memory decline at a Wednesday, Nov. 5, online seminar, “Brain Health as You Age.” The 5 p.m. Health & Wellness seminar can be accessed on Facebook.com/WashingtonHealth1 or YouTube.com/@WashingtonHealth.

“The brain is like any other organ in your body,” Dr. Walia notes. “Just as diet, exercise and adequate sleep help keep your heart and body heathy, they also keep your brain healthy.”

However, as a person ages — as our joints may get stiffer and eyesight not as sharp — similar changes affect the brain. Dr. Walia explains, “These changes include brain atrophy where some parts of the brain will shrink, slower processing where it may take longer to recall a word or learn a new one, and distraction where it becomes harder to multitask and focus on a single task.”

Some parts of memory loss are normal, Dr. Walia says, such as forgetting a name but recalling it later, or misplacing keys. Others, he says, are more concerning. These include getting lost in familiar areas, not recognizing individuals or not knowing what the keys are for.

Dr. Walia will discuss how a person’s health affects the brain, including the damage that high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking can do by narrowing the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the brain. These small injuries to the blood vessels add up over time, affecting brain health. These changes to the brain occur years before you would notice any memory loss and, once they start, are very hard to reverse.

A preventive approach is the best approach for maintaining brain health. Dr. Walia says, “Nourish your brain with a healthy diet that emphasizes grains, vegetables, fish and healthy fats. Avoid excess sugar and processed foods. Get a good night’s sleep. During deep sleep your brain actually clears out waste, including proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease.”

Also important is maintaining social interactions and staying mentally engaged. Stay curious, he advises. Crafts, games, reading, and learning something new all contribute to brain health as does social interaction. Joining a group, meeting a friend for coffee or even chatting with family over the telephone all help keep your brain active and your mood stable. “Loneliness isn’t just painful, it’s dangerous,” Dr. Walia emphasizes. “If you take care of yourself, you’ll take care of your brain. Start now; every day counts.”

For more information about brain health, plan to view Dr. Walia’s seminar on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 5 p.m. Following the presentation, the seminar will be added to WH’s video library at www.YouTube.com/@Washington_Health.