Our brain is the reservoir that keeps the body running. It performs a plethora of functions, without which other organs, even if they are healthy, will not be able to do their assigned tasks.

The human body is bound to go through physiological changes as it ages. However, it is upon us to make sure that we are doing everything in our capacity to age well.

On the occasion of World Brain Day, we bring to you five actionable tips to keep your brain super healthy. To begin with, simply sleep well!

  1. Sleep well to maintain brain health
  2. Quit smoking for brain health
  3. Be mentally active for brain health
  4. Exercise for brain health
  5. Avoid sugar for brain health
  6. Takeaways
Doctors for World Brain Day: 5 tips to keep your brain healthy

Sleep is important for a number of brain functions, including how nerve cells (neurons) communicate with each other. In fact, your brain and body stay remarkably active while you sleep. Recent findings suggest that sleep plays a housekeeping role that removes toxins in your brain that build up while you are awake. 

It is important that you aren’t sleep deprived and try to get seven to eight consecutive hours of sleep per night. Consecutive sleep gives your brain the time to consolidate and store your memories effectively.

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Tobacco consumption can harm all organs of the body and the brain is no exception. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your brain. Studies have shown time and again that smoking not only increases the risk of dementia but also results in loss of brain volume.

Your brain is like a muscle—you need to use it or you stand to lose it. There are many things that you can do to keep your brain in shape, such as crossword puzzles or Sudoku, reading, playing cards or putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Whichever activity you pick, make sure it's challenging enough for you.

Exercise improves blood flow and memory; it stimulates chemical changes in the brain that enhance learning, mood and thinking.

Daily physical exercise has been shown to prevent or postpone your risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions linked with dementia.

As little as 15 to 30 minutes a day can make a difference. You can walk, swim, play tennis or perform any other moderate aerobic activity that increases your heart rate.

Research shows that rats who ate a high-sugar diet were less successful at remembering whether they had previously seen objects in specific locations before.

Even in people without diabetes, higher sugar consumption is associated with lower scores on tests of cognitive function. (Read more: Are you addicted to sugar?)

Frequent exposure to high glucose levels diminishes mental capacity, as higher levels of blood sugar have been associated with a greater degree of brain shrinkage.

Keeping the brain healthy is not difficult. All you need to do is make some necessary lifestyle changes to significantly reduce the risk of getting brain diseases in the future.

There are five basic rules to keep your brain healthy:

  • Sleep for about seven hours a day (young children need to sleep more)
  • Exercise for at least 15 minutes daily
  • Cut back on added sugar
  • Keep the mind alert with puzzles and other challenges
  • Quit smoking

World Brain Day was started in 2014, to raise awareness about the amazing things our brain can do. What better way to pay homage than to keep the brain sharp, always.

Dr. Prince Asrani

Dr. Prince Asrani

Psychology
2 Years of Experience

Dr. Shivani Singh

Dr. Shivani Singh

Psychology
3 Years of Experience

Dr. Ansha Patel

Dr. Ansha Patel

Psychology
11 Years of Experience

Dr. Sapna Zarwal

Dr. Sapna Zarwal

Psychology
19 Years of Experience

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