The human brain is an amazing organ. As the body’s control center, it is responsible for initiating functions, responding to stimuli, and processing information. The brain’s complexity has often led to an aura of mystery around it. However, scientists have recently uncovered amazing new facts about the human mind. Among that information is new insight into supporting healthy brain function at any age.
The Brain Is Pliable
Earlier thought was that brain development was fixed after a certain age. This implied that an injury would be permanent. However, it is now clear that the mind is pliable and can adapt to changes and damage. Even a major injury can often be overcome to some degree.
The brain’s plasticity often comes from its ability to shift functions from one part to another. For example, an injury to the right occipital lobe should reduce vision. However, the left occipital lobe can compensate for the damaged portion, making up most of the difference. While there might be some deficiencies, cases like that of the young boy who had nearly a third of the right side of his brain removed.
Lifestyle Factors Influence Brain Health
Your lifestyle choices play a big role in how your brain ages. Your brain is largely made up of fats, proteins, and water. These components must be maintained through proper dietary habits. Failure to do so could have serious consequences. For example, even a small amount of dehydration can impede proper functioning.
Remember that lifestyle choices can support healthy cognitive function and memory; however, they cannot reverse any damage already done or cure disorders. That means prevention is vital in efforts to maintain brain health.
Tips To Support Healthy Brain Function
Since lifestyle is one of the biggest factors in brain health, it is logical to concentrate your efforts here.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Diets high in sugars and fats aren’t good for the brain. They do this in two main ways. First, these substances cause inflammation in and around neurons. They also limit the brain’s ability to form new neurons. That results in less and slower communication between them. You can minimize this effect by eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
If your diet is not providing the nutrients required for brain health, consider adding a supplement to support levels. When choosing vitamin and mineral supplements, look for one that is made with natural ingredients and tested for quality. It should also supply sufficient levels of brain and nerve-targeting nutrients such as Omega-3s and antioxidants.
Reduce Occasional Stress
Your brain is the main organ in charge of the stress response. It determines what in the environment is threatening and (hopefully) chooses an appropriate response. Keeping that in mind, it should come as no surprise that stress can quickly undermine brain health and function.
When bombarded with stressful situations, you will likely struggle to make effective decisions because too much energy is devoted to the stress response. Some research indicates that stress can cause physical changes in the brain. Luckily, the organ’s plasticity means that it may be able to recover if stressors are removed and behavioral changes are put into place.
Learn New Things
There are billions of neurons in the human brain, each one capable of transmitting 1,000 nerve impulses per second. Unfortunately, neural pathways are often lost with aging. Luckily, you can help create new pathways to replace those lost. One of the most effective ways to encourage continued neural activity is to challenge the mind.
Learning new things makes the brain work harder than when it does something familiar. This helps build new neural pathways and improves the speed at which they can transmit impulses. Try learning a new language, how to play an instrument, or using a new type of technology to challenge yourself and support healthy brain function.
Understanding how the brain works and why cognitive function may decline over time can help you implement an effective strategy to support the organ’s health. Adopting lifestyle habits, such as meeting nutrient requirements through a healthy diet and supplementation, continued learning, and managing stress, are all effective supports.
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