The 5 Worst Daily Habits for Your Brain as You Age
1. You’re not getting enough sleep.
After retirement I mostly am.
© Provided by Eat This, Not That! It's vital to get enough sleep in order to maintain a healthy brain. After all, that's when your mind is able to recharge and restore. Dr. Bohl tells us, "Older adults tend to need slightly less sleep than younger adults (seven to eight hours instead of seven to nine hours), but it's important just the same."If you're not getting enough restful Z's, you might feel forgetful, irritable, depressed, or suffer from more falls, the National Institute on Aging explains. That's why it's necessary to follow a consistent sleep schedule and try not to nap later on in the day. Not using blue light screens in your bedroom, keeping your sleeping space at just the right temperature, and avoiding caffeine in the late afternoon can also promote good, healthy sleep.
I have great social networks; jazz nights several times a week, two different wine groups, three groups to travel internationally with. Life is great.
You may not already know this, but maintaining a good social circle is essential for your brain health! "You can be social in person, like going on a walk with a friend, or be social in other ways, like having a conversation with a family member on the phone," suggests Dr. Bohl.
According to Asbury senior living communities, if you want to remain in good health well into your older years, socializing is not a question—it's a necessity. Building up your network of friends and engaging in group activities is similar to giving your brain a workout! How so? Socializing keeps your brain sharp and boosts your cognitive function. In fact, a study published in PLOS One revealed that keeping up strong friend groups as you age is associated with a more gradual cognitive decline.
Well I'm using alcohol to increase and maintain my social connections. Much more important to me to reduce my chances of dementia than whatever the negatives are.
Another one of the worst habits for your brain is consuming too much alcohol. Your brain can be compromised by drinking too much of your favorite beer, wine, or cocktails. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, drinking alcohol makes it much more difficult for the areas of your brain that are in charge of memory, balance, and speech to effectively perform their jobs. This can increase your risk of suffering from an injury or other health risks.
Typically, males should drink no more than two drinks or less each day, Dr. Bohl says. Females should cap it off to one or less in a day.
Not me. 5-7,000 steps a day several times a week.
Simply put, a sedentary lifestyle is not good for your overall wellness and brain health. Dr. Bohl recommends, "If you work at a desk job or otherwise spend a significant amount of time sitting and not moving around, try to find ways to get more activity into your daily life, such as doing chores or going on a walk during lunchtime."
Retirement reduced my stress to nothing.
Constant stress and other medical ailments can negatively impact your brain. According to Premier Neurology Center, being in a constant state of stress will regularly activate your brain's fear center. Your levels of cortisol will be heightened on a regular basis, which can lead to other issues with sleeping, digestion, and your immune system. Stress can actually alter the structure of your brain, kill new cells in your brain, and put you at a greater risk of suffering from mental illness. That's why it's critical to take any prescribed medications and also to discuss any mental health concerns you have with your physician, Dr. Bohl explains.
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