Information and resources to help you protect your brain and thinking power as you age, for optimum brain health.
Keeping your brain sharp as you age is really important if you want to have the vibrant, healthy kind of later life that you imagined. Starting the process of keeping your brain healthy needs to begin as early as possible, because the older you get, the more likely your brain health is to decline. One of the major risks of declining brain health is dementia. Statistics tell us there are currently over 24 million people in the world living with dementia and it is thought that number could reach 84 million within the next two decades. The number is increasing so quickly because our worldwide ageing population is growing, as health advances enable people to live longer and as the population grows as a whole.
There are many ways you can maintain or increase mental agility. Here are just 6 of the ways you can keep your brain sharp when you’re over the age of 65:
- Keep Your Blood Pressure Under Control
Blood pressure problems and issues with cholesterol can increase your risk of heart problems and stroke which are thought to increase your risk of dementia. Controlling your diet, keeping your stress levels low and exercising will help to keep your blood pressure under control.
2. Avoid Smoking Or Drinking In Excess
These habits are both known to have a negative effect on your arteries and have the potential to contribute to your risk of dementia so the sooner you can get on top of these habits, the better.
3. Move More
Moving regularly helps to keep plenty of healthy blood flowing through the brain, lowering your blood pressure and reducing your risk of dementia. Exercises like walking, gardening, or swimming can all contribute to the health of your brain.
4. Keep Your Brain Active
Learn new things, stimulate your brain with crossword puzzles, maths problems, playing chess and crafts. Mental stimulation helps to keep the brain healthy, keeping it sharp as you move into your later years. But avoid activities that are too repetitive.
5. Avoid Loneliness
Loneliness affects many older people and is thought to be as bad for your health as smoking. It can increase your risk of dementia so stay social as much as you can. Whether you reach out to others in your community or you speak to your live-in care provider about taking you to groups with people of a similar age, the more social you can be, the better your brain health will be.
6. Eat Healthy Food
Healthy food makes a huge difference to your overall vitality when you age, but especially to your brain health. Eating a diet that is balanced and full of colourful fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and proteins, complex carbohydrates and additional vitamins and minerals will help to boost your brain in later life.
Don’t Be Afraid To Reach Out For Help
If you require help at home maintaining your physical and mental health, live in care can be a great alternative to residential care. The Live In Care Hub found that almost all older people would rather avoid residential care if they become unwell or unable to care for themselves. You can stay in your own home, with a care package to suit your needs. Whether you have dementia, require specialist stroke recovery support, physiotherapy, or purely companion care, a live-in care agency can help. The first step having an independent and happy later life is to get the help you need.
