The Truth Behind Boosting Your Brain Health

When I talk about brain health to students in my Brain Fit Now! workshops I emphasize three things:

• You can make changes today to improve your brain health tomorrow.

• Begin with small changes that you can maintain over a lifetime.

• Develop a plan and stick to it.

BRAIN HEALTH TIPS

Who Get’s Alzheimer’s Disease

Who get’s Alzheimer’s Disease? Those who celebrate their 65th birthday. Yes, age is the biggest factor in developing Alzheimer’s. The rate then doubles almost every five years after age 65. After age 85, the risk reaches nearly 50 percent.

Education About Brain Health

My advice is to celebrate each birthday by reducing your risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. Get educated about your risk factors for the disease and then make it a practice to reduce your odds. Factors that may influence your risk include;

• Head Trauma

• Heart Health

My advice: After any diagnosis ask your health care professional ” Does this affect my heart health?” If the answer is yes, your goal is to manage the identified condition.

Practicing Better Brain Health

Heart health is brain health. If you have a diagnosis of diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol begin practicing the life skills you need to manage and improve your health outcome. These three conditions are considered risk factors for Alzheimer’s and stroke-related dementia.

My advice: Use any unexpected diagnosis to spur you into action. A wise teacher once advised me let fear be your teacher. Use the information to improve your well-being not to control your well-being.

Develop A Brain Health Plan

If you follow my advice on the Brain Booster Six™ you know that improving your brain health is complex and relies on a holistic approach to health. Here’s the short version: Health Management, Nutrition, Stress Management, Lifelong Learning, Social Connection, and Physical Activity.

My advice: This week identify, one area to work on, then identify the barriers that may prevent you from improving that area, and lastly identify solutions to propel you forward.

If you have questions about brain health, brain games and training, nutrition tips please contact me during my office hours on Friday 10 AM PST on my Facebook page: Judi Bonilla Gerontologist.

Judi Bonilla is a San Diego gerontologist focusing on researching, developing, and teaching creative aging programs. She’s the founder of Brain Fit Now! focused on reducing dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease through solution based programs.

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