Ideas for Staying Cognitively Sharp
As seniors age, one of the things they fear most is losing their cognitive abilities. They want to ensure they can continue to think clearly, learn and remember the important things to them in life. They also want to be able to manage many of the things they’ve always done. While a decline in cognitive abilities can be normal with aging, there are some things experts recommend seniors can do to help stay cognitively sharp as they age and minimize that decline. Here are some suggestions to stay on that path.
Keep the Mind Active
Learning new things can help keep the mind sharp. While reading, doing crosswords and listening to music can help keep your brain active, it is actively learning new things that have the most benefit, experts say. In a study cited by the NIH, people who learned new skills - such as quilting or photography, had better memory improvement and lasting changes in areas of the brain associated with attention and concentration versus people who simply did things such as play Wordle or listen to classical music. While doing those things can improve the enjoyment of life, they may not play a role in keeping the mind sharp. The NIH warns against claims that playing certain computer games or doing brain training can help keep your mind sharp, as they said there is no evidence of that.
The Body Too
While keeping the mind active can be good for cognitive health, experts say keeping the body active is essential. They say doing activities to stay active, whether it be chores around the home, going for walks, or even horseback riding, can help overall physical health and cognition. Studies have shown that exercise can stimulate the brain’s ability to “maintain old network connections and make new ones that are vital to cognitive health.” Being physically active can also give you more energy to do other things, such as learn new activities, which can lead to overall health and cognitive health.
Physical Health is Important
To help with cognitive health, it is important to maintain physical health. Among those physical things people should maintain is blood pressure. They say preventing high blood pressure and maintaining a good level helps not only the heart but also the brain. This isn’t just true for older adults. It has been shown that having high blood pressure in midlife can lead to cognitive decline down the road as people age. However, a lowering of blood pressure can lower the risk for cognitive impairment.
Other physical things to look out for are diabetes, high cholesterol and depression. You also might want to consult with your physician to see what kind of side effects medications could have on your cognitive health now and down the road. Other important things to take note of are to reduce any injuries to the head, to quit smoking and to get enough sleep.
Keeping stress under control also is an important part of physical health, as well as mental health. Chronic stress has been shown to change the brain and impact cognitive health negatively. Exercise, meditating, and writing in a journal, as well as activities you enjoy, can also help with stress reduction. So can seeing family members and loved ones.
Eat Healthy
A way to maintain good physical health is to eat healthy. Eating healthy foods also can be linked to good cognitive health. Experts say having a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and lean fish and poultry is important. They say limiting sugar, high-fat dairy products, and greasy foods can also help. Also, be sure to monitor your alcohol intake and not consume too much.
Some studies have shown that following a Mediterranean diet can help with cognitive health. That diet includes eating more fish, more plant-based foods, higher fiber and using olive oil to prepare meals. A Mind/DASH diet, which is a combination of the Mediterranean diet and a diet called Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, can help. Be sure to consult with your physician before beginning any eating plan.
We Can Help
If you are looking for someone to help your senior loved one do activities to help keep their brain sharp or even just help them with activities of daily living, our caregivers at Visiting Angels can help. We offer companionship, personal care and specialty care services. Visiting Angels serves seniors in Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and the surrounding areas. We provide a variety of home care services, including companion care, respite care, fall prevention services and a safe and steady program.
We will come to your home for a free visit to find out what needs you have and develop a care plan tailored to your needs. Call us at (239) 226-1620 for more information or find us online.