You may be getting older, but that is no reason to fret. You can help keep your brain young with some simple lifestyle changes.
Dr. William Hu, an Emory neurologist , recommends a moderate amount of exercise, eating well and managing stress. Excercising three to five times a week increases blood flow to the brain, which keeps it working smarter and reduces the risk of mini-strokes.
"It's fairly common when we see someone with early memory troubles, we'll see a certain degree of mini-strokes that have occurred over time," Dr. Hu said.
Healthy eating may also decrease stoke risk, and foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids like fish and walnuts are very important for brain health.
"It seem that people who eat lots of fish and seafood tend to have healthier brain aging overall," Dr. Hu said.
Reducing stress through meditation also helps keep our brains younger long. Significant stress causes brain changes that can lead to memory loss. Dr. Hu said meditators tend to have better blood flow to the brain's frontal cortex, which is the area that helps multitask and make accurate decisions.
Dr. Hu says if you want to stay smarter longer, take steps now to improve your lifestyle by exercising, eating right and meditating.
Dr. William Hu, an Emory neurologist , recommends a moderate amount of exercise, eating well and managing stress. Excercising three to five times a week increases blood flow to the brain, which keeps it working smarter and reduces the risk of mini-strokes.
"It's fairly common when we see someone with early memory troubles, we'll see a certain degree of mini-strokes that have occurred over time," Dr. Hu said.
Healthy eating may also decrease stoke risk, and foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids like fish and walnuts are very important for brain health.
"It seem that people who eat lots of fish and seafood tend to have healthier brain aging overall," Dr. Hu said.
Reducing stress through meditation also helps keep our brains younger long. Significant stress causes brain changes that can lead to memory loss. Dr. Hu said meditators tend to have better blood flow to the brain's frontal cortex, which is the area that helps multitask and make accurate decisions.
Dr. Hu says if you want to stay smarter longer, take steps now to improve your lifestyle by exercising, eating right and meditating.
