Top 10 Tips to Keep Your Brain Young | Elizabeth Amini | TEDxSoCal

This is one of my favorite blogs---how to keep your brain young and keep dementia away.  And as usual, it comes down to diet and exercise--- doesn't everything???!!!???

So I actually made notes when I listened to this talk.  Years ago I went to a memory wing of a hospital and I thought "no way do I ever want to put my family through this" so I have kept an ear about what helps with dementia.  Here are the things I found important:

1. Exercise-walk fast- this gets the old gunk out of your brain and gets the new fresh blood in.  30 minutes 3 times a week=33% less chance of dementia.  Aerobic activity 20 minutes a day, 3 times a day = 50% less chance of dementia.  I think of this as having oil in a car.  If you never change the oil, the motor gets clogged up, runs bad and effects the rest of the car until it quits working.  Fresh blood and oxygen for your brain are the same- old blood, old oxygen, makes the brain run less efficiently, slower and eventually, maybe quit.

2. Friends and social circles are very important:  having 5 different social circles = 50% less chance of dementia.  My friend Marty has zero risk of dementia-she has so many social circles-take a que from her and go out and make friends!!

3. Play mentally challenging games.  I can actually, physically feel it when I am learning something new and my brain is being sparked.  Again, old thoughts out, new thoughts in=happy brain.  Learning is important for the brain-take a dance class, chess, a new language, instrument-do something different to exercise the brain

4. Have purpose and direction in life=2.4 times less chance of dementia.  I would do my job for free if I could.  I love helping people, I love learning and that has become my life direction!!

5. Avoid poisons in food, environment, etc- we all know this

6. Relax- STRESS SHRINKS THE BRAIN- did you all hear that????? I had no idea.  Stress makes the brain foggy, makes it harder to concentrate-all things I understand BUT if physically shrinks the brain!!!!!

7. See a doctor, get your physicals, get your recommended vitamins- do good for your body

8.  Have a positive outlook.  I have this one down, I was born with it.  I can take a situation and see the silver lining in almost anything-drives some people crazy BUT it is actually called cognitive reevaluation and I have done it all my life.  I have been through the highest of highs in life and the lowest of lows (losing a child) but I continue to have a positive outlook.
You can lie to your brain and tell it things are positive, things are good, etc and it will believe you! The neurons will fire positively, etc.  This positive attitude actually protects the neurons from dementia- just listen about the 600 nuns in this talk

9. Protect your head-brain injuries create a higher risk for dementia.  Wear your seat belt, wear a helmet- do the things your MOM told you to do when you were young!

10.  Eat a diet with 7 to 10 servings of fruit and vegetables a day.  This is a lot, I barely get two in a day but I am trying....

So there you go, the nuts and bolts of the talk-hope you enjoyed, hope you make some positive changes in your life!

Lisa