Doctors Reveal Habits That Can Accelerate Brain Aging

Doctors have identified six daily habits that may contribute to premature brain aging. While it’s normal for brain function to decline gradually starting at age 60, doctors emphasize that certain habits can speed up this process. Addressing these habits may delay conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, which affect millions worldwide, and could increase in the coming decades....CONTINUE READING>>>

Dr. Zaldy Tan from Cedars-Sinai and Dr. Glen Finney, an expert from the American Academy of Neurology, shared key advice for maintaining brain health in older age. They stress that taking care of both your brain and body can significantly influence how you age. Here are six habits linked to accelerated brain aging:

1. Social Isolation: Limited social interaction can lead to brain degeneration by reducing the opportunity for new neural connections. Engaging with others stimulates areas of the brain related to language, comprehension, and memory. Social isolation has been associated with a higher risk of dementia, heart disease, depression, and premature death. In-person interactions are ideal, though online socializing can also help.
2. Repetitive Routines: Sticking to the same daily habits without challenging the brain can contribute to cognitive decline. Doctors recommend learning new skills like playing a musical instrument or speaking a new language, as these activities stimulate brain growth and enhance memory and problem-solving abilities.
3. Chronic Stress: Prolonged stress, which can arise from various life concerns, leads to increased inflammation and higher levels of cortisol, a hormone that affects memory. Over time, this stress can damage brain cells, accelerating aging and increasing the risk of dementia. Doctors suggest stress-reducing activities like meditation, breathing exercises, or sauna use to help reset the body’s stress response.
4. Too Much Takeout: Relying on processed foods or takeout, which are often high in salt and low in nutrients, can harm the brain. These foods may reduce blood flow to the brain, impair cognitive function, and contribute to weight gain—an added risk for cognitive decline. Doctors advise eating fewer ready-made meals and incorporating more home-cooked, nutritious meals with vegetables.
5. Poor Quality Sleep: Insufficient or poor sleep disrupts important brain processes, including memory consolidation and the removal of harmful proteins associated with Alzheimer’s. Poor sleep over time accelerates brain aging. Doctors recommend aiming for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night, with some time spent in restorative deep sleep.
6. Lack of Exercise: Physical activity, especially cardiovascular exercises, boosts brain health by improving blood flow and stimulating the growth of new brain cells. Regular exercise also helps prevent falls—a leading cause of injury and death among the elderly. However, about 40% of older adults do not engage in sufficient physical activity, which puts them at risk for cognitive decline.

By addressing these habits, individuals can improve brain health and maintain cognitive function well into old age.