The importance of the brain cannot be overstated. By allowing you to think, form feelings, taste, touch, move your limbs, blink, and even talk, your brain is the supercomputer processor that drives your ability to function. Come to think of it, reading this blog post would be impossible without your brain!
While we know most of the brain core functions, did you know that your brain produces enough electricity to power a 25-watt light bulb? According to the Cleveland Clinic, it does!
The brain is a wonder all by itself, which makes it easy to understand why brain injuries, diseases, and disabilities can cause severely disrupting issues for a person.
A True Tragedy: Alzheimer’s Disease
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s is the most popular form of dementia, which refers to a person’s loss of cognitive functions (thinking, remembering, and reasoning). Alzheimer’s begins with mild memory loss and then quickly deteriorates to a person losing their memory and ability to perform basic activities like holding a conversation, cleaning the home, or even walking.
Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s is most likely to affect seniors 65 years and older, with women making up majority of the patients. There is not yet any cure for the disease, but several approved medications have proven to be effective in slowing down the loss of cognitive abilities.
While Alzheimer’s is one of the most known diseases to affect the brain, there are many others, and the effects of brain diseases underscore the importance of caring for the brain. Brain Awareness Week celebrated from July 18th to the 29th, undertakes to promote information about brain health, brain research, and other important information related to brain health.
How to Care for the Brain
Caring for your brain is easy and essential! A proper diet ensures your brain gets the fuel it needs to perform well. Remember when your parent once told you to have a great breakfast before any school exam? They were on to something! A delicious blend of fruits, vegetables, fish, and proteins are great for the brain. Adequate water consumption is also essential!
Engaging in routine physical activities is also beneficial for your brain’s wellbeing! Physical activity increases oxygen flow and forms new nerve cells in the brain – your brain is probably doing a happy dance reading this right now! In addition to the direct benefits to the brain, physical activities like sports and exercise also reduce your risk of other diseases and help to relieve stress which is one of the brain’s worst enemies.
Participating in work, play, learning, and creating is extremely important for some core functions of the brain. When you do art, play puzzles, build things, or read and write are examples of brain stimulation! Those cognitive actives also allow you to learn and improve new skills, expand your imagination, and keep up the processors of your brain for its wellbeing.
Like a car with a bad engine, an unhealthy brain can keep you back and impact your quality of life. If you start experiencing extreme and frequent headaches or memory loss, you must consult with a medical professional immediately. If you have a loved one with a brain disease like Alzheimer’s, as a family, it is of high importance to learn how to care for the patient, help them adjust to a more challenging life, and to make things a little easier for them.
Above all, remaining aware of the benefits of your brain, how to care for it, and how to stimulate it are invaluable pieces of advice to help you enjoy a long, happy, fulfilling life.