Healthy aging isn’t just about fending off senility; it’s about making the best of things in your golden years as well. It’s no secret that children have amazing capacities of picking up new skills and adapting to changes, and we do lose neurons over the years. The good news is that our brains do not necessarily only go downhill.
Regardless of age, the human brain can adapt and evolve, as well as sharpen its memory function. Unsurprisingly, our daily habits and lifestyles have a substantial impact on our brain health and memory. With the proper stimulants, our loved ones can stave off cognitive diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Moreover, with optimized physical and mental health, our loved ones can live their retirement years to the fullest! Let’s look at some nurturing strategies to boost our loved one’s brain health and memory.
Eat Healthily
Prioritizing fresh produce over processed food, low sugar, and healthy fats in your loved one’s diet is one of the best ways to protect their brain. Fresh leafy green vegetables and omega3-rich fishes such as salmon and tuna are known to fuel memory power. And diet doesn’t mean boring! Diversify your loved one’s menu with a Mediterranean diet or Indian cuisine which are both known to be associated with memory improvements. Add in some delightful chocolate which enhances the elderly’s visual information processing and memory abilities.
Exercise
Whether it’s joining an aerobics class or going for daily walks, staying physically active is important for improving overall health and maximizing brain function. When you exercise, blood flow to your brain is ameliorated which enhances cognitive health. There are plenty of brain-boosting exercises that improve our loved one’s mental acuity, such as yoga and golf.
Stay Social
Participating in social activities provides opportunities for our elderly to create new friendships and engage in conversations, which are good brain stimulators. Community gardens or group fitness clubs are great places where the elderly can interact with others with common interests. When the elderly are surrounded by those who bring them happiness, this love is a great mental health booster.
Learn a New Skill
Discovering something new is not just fun, but it also helps to stimulate the brain and improve memory. Learning a new talent need not be a big change; it can be something simple that you have wished to try for years and never had the time! The key is to find a cognitive-stimulating activity that interests you.
Relaxation and Stress Management
Meditating and relaxing away the stress are proven to improve the elderly’s memory. When we are calm, we retain information better and think more clearly. Practice 30 minutes of mindfulness exercises, mild yoga, or meditation to feel tranquillity and boost your brain health. Music therapy is also an effective antidote against stress and memory loss.
Age is just a number and doesn’t define who you are. It’s never too late to adopt lifestyles changes and habits which can make a huge difference to you or your loved ones’ quality of life, self-esteem, and confidence.
