QUEZON City, Philippines (February 15) – The brain as part of the nervous system is responsible for memory, consciousness and voluntary actions. It also controls the maintenance for respiration, heart rate, digestion and blood pressure. As the master control of our body, it is important that this organ remains healthy.
To maintain good health, the body has to exert physical efforts and maintain supplements. The brain needs cognitive effort to maintain good health. As we age, our brain changes making it prone to mental illness like Alzheimer’s, it is natural. Fifteen percent of adults aged 60 suffer mental disorders. Although the changes in the brain’s functioning are inevitable, cognitive efforts can slow it down.
Cognitive efforts allow the brain cells to produce more connection with others. Paul Manger, a professor of health sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa said that “When you look at cetaceans, they have big brains, absolutely,” Manger says. “But if you look at the actual structure of the brain, it’s not very complex. And brain size only matters if the rest of the brain is organized properly to facilitate information processing.” He said that the size doesn’t actually matter but how the nerve cells and synapses are organized for information-processing capacity.
The brain’s involvement in mental activities helped to keep it active. In a study conducted in United States, it was said that the level of education completed is directly proportional with the prevention of damage caused by Alzheimer’s. Studying 130 deceased people with Alzheimer’s, researchers found out that the impact of the disease is related to the formal education the patient had attained. A study conducted in France even suggested that more intellectually challenged career prevents Alzheimer’s. Being engage in complex mental activities will keep the brain learning and therefore, making it stay sharp and expanding.
Exercise is needed. It is beneficial in improving energy level, sleep, well-being. It even keeps our brain healthy. It reduces depression and anxiety. The study conducted by Department of Exercise Science at University of Georgia claimed that exercising for 20 minutes facilitates information processing and memory.
Feed your brain by staying conscious in your diet. Foods that are rich in good fats like polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids and packed with protective food rich in vitamin E and lutein promotes brain health.
Have a life by being socially-engaged. A study said that having more social interaction is associated with less rate of memory loss by half. Stay active by joining organizations that are meaningful to you. Visit friends, family and relatives; have a regular bonding time allotted for them. They are your key to happiness.
The brain is where we hide memories, control ourselves and decide for our own. we should not let it be overpowered by age and illness. We must do something before we lost what we treasure most.
References:
http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/mental-workouts-271437-5_2.html
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/does-brain-size-matter/
https://www.innerbody.com/image/nervov.html
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs381/en/
http://www.rd.com/health/wellness/top-10-tips-for-a-healthy-brain-antiaging/
http://www.beautiful-minds.com/four-dimensions-of-brain-health/brain-health-tips#sthash.lLxOV6LE.dpuf
(written by Karen Llacuna, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)
