The brain does not become mature overnight. The brain needs to be cared for and especially at different stages of life, to avoid deterioration. How to take care of the brain at different stages of life to avoid its deterioration?
I – How to Take Care of the Brain in Childhood?
At this stage, there is more growth of brain cells, and more synapses develop, giving children a great learning ability. This is the ideal step to learn a new language, for example. However, during these years, the risk of epilepsy and autism may also increase, probably due to an “overload” of active synapses.
*** Teach Your Children to Develop Good Habits
It is important to teach children how to develop good habits that will help them protect their brains for the rest of their lives: eating a good breakfast, incorporating into the diet of fruits and foods containing choline – a fundamental nutrient for brain development, memory, and transmission of nerve impulses; sleep the hours needed to strengthen the links between the hemispheres, helping the brain to mature; learn music; Exercise and use headphones to protect the head when performing activities that may cause a fall.
II – How to Take Care of the Brain as a Teenager?
This stage is one of the most important for the development of the brain: on the one hand, it produces a lot of myelin – an essential protein that envelops and protects the axons of certain nerve cells and whose main function is to increase the speed of transmission of nerve impulses – but, on the other hand, myelin pathways develop more toward areas of the brain that trigger risk-taking, emotions, and sexuality than toward areas of function such as reasoning. , judgment, and control of impulses. The risk of addiction is high. Similarly, repeated alcohol use in these years has lasting effects on the memory and learning part of the brain.
*** Neurologists Recommendation
Neurologists recommend that families incorporate a habit that seems very simple but has a very positive effect on adolescents: eating together at least five times a week. According to studies, this habit reduces the likelihood that children will try tobacco and consume marijuana and/or alcohol.
*** Avoid Meningitis
It is also essential to be vaccinated against meningitis and to avoid any concussion because a head injury, caused, for example, during the practice of a sport, can lead to changes in thinking, memory, and language, as well as symptoms of epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological diseases.
III – How to Take Care of the Brain in Adulthood?
The different areas of the brain are even more interconnected, and the maximum communication speed of the brain is reached. Although this is a stage of stability for its development, it is also a stage in which we are usually confronted with a lot of stress. Chronic stress can affect the brain and increase the risk of dementia. It can also lead to the aging of our cells and many toxins in the brain, including those that lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
*** Do Some Stroke Avoidance Exercises
Exercise (especially aerobic and several times a week) also activates a molecule that promotes neuron survival and reduces the risk of stroke. It is advisable to do it in the open air: this will help us maintain adequate levels of vitamin D and, therefore, avoid depression and improve the quality of sleep.
Smoking not only increases the risk of stroke but can also cause thinning of the cerebral cortex, a thinning that affects language, perception, and memory.
*** Mediterranean Diet for Good Health
The Mediterranean diet is essential for enjoying good health. Some foods seem to have a protective effect: those that are rich in polyphenols, vitamin K, and omega-3.
*** Importance of Positive Social Relationships
Positive social relationships contribute to the generation of neurotransmitters, in addition to strengthening our immune system and reducing anxiety, the risk of depression, and heart problems. In addition, family relationships and quality friendship (social support) also help protect our brains from dementia.
*** Importance of Intellectual Stimulation
Intellectual stimulation is another way of protecting our brain against cognitive deterioration: to incorporate readings, study a new language, do something different with a certain frequency, and so on. The important thing is that it poses a challenge to our brains.
IV – How to Take Care of the Brain: 10 Tips to Maintain Your Brain
If aging is an irreversible process, our brain keeps all its life its ability to make neurons. It must still be maintained because brain health is primarily a question of exercise.
The brain, just like a muscle, must be trained to maintain or improve its faculties. Here are some good habits to adopt.
1. Cultivate Your Interests
To be in shape, your brain needs occupations. And to be trained, these occupations must be varied because your brain hates them more than anything: the routine! Do not hesitate to diversify your centers of interest.
Music, sports activities, cooking or reading, you have the choice, enjoy!
2. Eat Healthily
The health of your brain is closely linked to the quality of your diet. Many studies have been conducted on the subject, and among the foods to prioritize, foods low in fatty acids but rich in antioxidants work miracles on neurons. Fruits, vegetables, fish, and white meats promise to stay healthy for a long time.
3. Look After Yourself!
Healing your health is a holistic approach, and your brain will not be healthy if you do not take care of your body. Many pathologies affect brain health. Among them: diabetes, cholesterol, and high blood pressure. If you have not already done so, it may be time to make an appointment with your doctor for a complete check-up.
4. Forget the Stress
We do not know enough, but many ailments are intimately linked to stress. Memory loss and attention disorders are all consequences of life being too stressful. If you want to heal your brain, take the time to slow down, breathe, and stay zen!
5. Build Social Bonds
Social interactions are fundamental to nurturing your brain. This is one of the first tips doctors give to people who have symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Loneliness is the enemy of your health!
6. Move!
Health authorities do not tire of repeating it; physical exercises are the key to good health. Walking, running, indoor sports … Many options are available to combine sporting activities, social interactions, and to chase the routine!
7. Take Care of Your Intestines
It is a saying that our intestines are our second brain. That’s enough to convince you to take care of your microbiota, this organ that we have talked about a lot for a few years and that qualifies your intestinal flora. And for that, nothing better than a diet rich in prebiotic foods. These, such as artichokes or chicory, have the ability to heal the good bacteria that live in your intestines. Not to be deprived!
8. Forget the Sleeping Pills
Why sleep your brain? Sleeping pills and anxiolytics are real machines to prevent your neurons from renewing themselves. If you have trouble sleeping, try to turn to alternative and natural treatments.
9. Do Exercises
At any age, it is important to have your brain work. To stay young, the child must constantly face a problem to solve. To work your brain, various exercises are available to you. Your children’s homework, crosswords, and chess are all healthy activities for your health.
10. Enjoy Life!
Even if you do not feel as fit as when you were 20 years old, you do not have to sit in your chair waiting for years to come! Travel, gardening, and DIY, and studies have already focused on these activities that have shown their effectiveness in protecting, in particular, Alzheimer’s disease, so do not wait and enjoy life!
By Way of Summary:
Being mature depends, to a large extent, on the development of our brain. Our brain, for its development, needs care and interviews, of course! Caring for and maintaining your brain is also about being mature.
A mature person is able to self-manage, take responsibility for his actions, adopt different perspectives, be critical both to the world and to himself, and be able to adapt to situations and meet the demands of reality.
Much of it comes to maturity through the experiences of each person during their development. At the same time, this development also depends to a large extent on the biological aspects that make it possible.