Knowing more about what is brain health can help seniors, loved ones, and caregivers understand when an older loved one simply forgot something versus when they're showing signs of cognitive decline. Brain health covers how well one can think, learn, remember, move, function, and manage emotions in daily life. Supporting senior brain wellness involves several aspects, from nutrition to socializing to sleep to physical activity.
Focusing on cognitive health matters more than ever as people are living longer and want to thrive in old age. According to the World Health Organization, there were already over 1 billion people aged 60+ in the world as of 2023, with the number expected to climb to 2.1 billion by 2050.
When living in an environment like Chateau McKinney in McKinney, TX, seniors can experience brain-focused activities like book clubs, workshops, wellness programs, and live music performances. Residents can also engage with their friends over fresh chef-prepped meals.
Participating in group trivia, puzzles, and trying to guess the answer on shows like Jeopardy aren't just fun but are also healthy brain habits. That's because engaging the brain with intellectual activities and focusing on education may help ward off cognitive impairment later in life. According to a 2016 study by Manly JJ, Jones RN, Langa KM, et al. for JAMA Neurology, a disproportionate amount of cases of dementia in the United States coincided with race and lower educational attainment.
A typical mentally empowering day at Chateau McKinney may include a game of Scrabble or dominoes, card games, a Barnes & Noble books store outing, or coloring activities. These activities are essential to building new neural connections, problem-solving, and improving neural plasticity, which is the brain's ability to adapt.
As a result, seniors can continue to build their cognitive reserve, and they challenge their brain's processing power.
Seniors and caretakers can support the aging brain by ensuring a balanced meal filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, probiotics, and regular hydration with clean water. Nutritious eating provides a range of vitamins from A through K, antioxidants, minerals, and healthy fats that help prevent inflammation and oxidative stress.
For example, the antioxidant vitamin E helps fight free radicals that can damage the brain cells. Vitamin D helps support neurotransmitter production, which is essential for stabilizing mood and preventing depression.
Seniors should focus on consuming foods with:
Eating fatty fish like salmon and mackerel a few times a week is an easy way to get your omega-3's, whereas drinking kefir or eating yogurt can provide the probiotics essential to gut health. The gut-brain pipeline is important as a fiber-rich diet protects the walls of the gut, which supports the microbiome. A healthy microbiome helps produce neurotransmitters that regulate mood and overall well-being.
Loneliness can increase the onset of dementia, as well as poor eating habits that can leave one with a malnourished brain. However, engaging in regular conversations and group activities helps challenge your brain to find solutions and build a cognitive reserve.
Being around other people may help promote healthier behaviors. For example, you may be more likely to go on daily intensive walks around nearby walking paths if you're part of a group that does the same thing.
When you're working with a friend or a group on trivia or a quiz, you may also learn new information from their knowledge. As you tell stories to others, your brain must retrieve information, which strengthens your memory.
Did you know that physical activity is also vital for your cognitive health? Stay active by going on shopping excursions, brisk walking, getting up to dance at a live musical performance, or playing volleyball. At Chateau McKinney, residents can do such activities, as well as strength training and stretching, or swim in the on-site heated pool.
Staying active helps reduce anxiety and depression as it can release endorphins and provide an easy way to socialize. Plus, certain activities like dance work the brain by forcing one to remember dance steps and trying to coordinate with others.
After a long day of regular mental and physical activities, seniors should be ready for a peaceful regenerative sleep. Adults should get 7 to 9 hours of restful sleep every night. Doing so is essential for cognitive health as REM sleep helps ward off inflammation and morning brain fog.
Accidents or ongoing lifestyle habits play a big role in damaging the brain. Traumatic brain injuries can result from sports, car crashes, or falls, which can either cause localized trauma or widespread damage to the brain.
A stroke happens when there is bleeding in the brain or a sudden blockage, which can lead to permanent cell death. Substance abuse can alter one's brain chemistry or structure. The brain can also get chronic damage from poor sleep, excessive processed foods and sugar, a lack of physical activity, isolation, and chronic stress.
One of the clearest signs of brain trouble is frequent memory lapses, difficulty finding words, disorientation that results in getting lost, and problems concentrating. Pay attention to weakness, numbness, or tingling, especially if it's on one side of your face, arm, or leg, as it could signal a stroke.
Unexplained dizziness and trouble with fine motor skills are also major issues. Sometimes poor brain health can show up in behavioral or mood changes, particularly if the person seems anxious, agitated, or paranoid.
Thinking, remembering, and using one's five senses all contribute to brain health. At Chateau McKinney, seniors can easily get healthy, balanced meals packed with brain-boosting nutrients as they socialize with others in restaurant-style dining. Regular off-site trips, daily brain-focused games like trivia and cards, fitness classes, and swimming all contribute to a healthier brain.
Are you ready to join a vibrant environment in Texas and learn more about what is brain health? Here you'll have the activities, wellness programs, and support to optimize brain health, so reach out to us today for more information.