BRAIN HEALTH

The brain benefits from intentional healthy habits:

Challenge Your Mind: Keeping your brains active and doing something new can have short- and long-term benefits for your brain. Learn a new skill, take a class at your local library, or try something artistic to exercise your brain!

Exercise: Regular exercise helps to increase blood flow to the brain and body. Engaging in more movement helps your brain in more ways than one.

Be Smoke-Free: Smoking can decrease brain function. Quitting can lower the risk back to levels similar to those who have not smoked.

Manage Diabetes and/or Blood Pressure:  Type 2 diabetes can be controlled through engaging in other healthy habits such as physical activity, eating health, and taking necessary medications. This also applies to controlling your blood pressure, but working with your health care provider can help manage both.

Get Good Sleep: Quality sleep is important for brain health. Avoid electronics and screens before bed and try to sleep for more than 7 hours a night. Minimize any disruptions to optimize your brain health!

Eat Healthy and Maintain a Healthy Weight: Focusing on eating healthier foods strengthens both your body and mind. Eating right can reduce your risk of cognitive decline and protect your mental ability in the long-term. Maintaining a healthy weight by using other healthy habits can also contribute to a healthy brain. Talk to your health care provider what weight might be healthy for you and your lifestyle to assist your brain and its processes.

10.3% of Fairfield County residents age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s Dementia. This is below the state average of 11.3%.