Would you believe that much of the aging process is all in your head? In many ways, how we age often starts in our brain since what we think plays a significant role in both how long and how well we live.

Brain health has definitely hit the big time. Never before has there been so much interest in the human brain among mainstream America. The explosion of the brain health industry over the last few years – specifically in the areas of memory enhancement and brain fitness – has become a multi-million dollar business.

Built on recent scientific studies and demand from the Boomer population for mentally active aging, a new frontier of discovery and opportunity is upon us. And while there is still much we don’t understand about the brain and its complexity, we do know brain health is a key part of total wellness and is absolutely essential for good health.

When you think about it, everything we do starts in the brain – how we grieve, love, hurt, laugh – are all emotions that come from the brain, not the heart. And while most everyone knows what to do to be heart healthy, few people really understand what we need to do to promote good brain health.

To begin with, the brain doesn’t care how old you are – all it wants is to be stimulated. In fact some of the most exciting research in this area revolves around the brain’s ability to develop new brain cells – neurons – throughout the life span. This is a particularly important issue when you consider the fact that the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimers disease, doubles every five years between the age of 65 and 85. However, by continuing to keep the brain active through the development of dendrites and new neurons, we can significantly slow down the progression and onset of brain deterioration. A recent study reported that people who spent three (3) hours a day engrossed in mental activities ranging from playing board games, reading, dancing, or playing a musical instrument had a 75% lower risk of developing dementia than those who spent less (or no) time doing these activities.

One of the foremost experts in this field and an international leader in the area of brain health lifestyle, Paul Nussbaum, Ph.D., has identified five contributing factors that affect brain vitality:

Socialization: Loneliness and isolation increases the risk of
dementia so staying engaged and connected with friends and
family provides tremendous benefits. Having a sense of
purpose, meaning in your life, and a reason to get up in the
morning can be one of the biggest challenges for retirees who
often don’t know what to do once they leave the workforce
because they’ve usually built their entire life around work --
including social relationships. Recognizing this and having a
plan of what you’ll be retiring to is equally, if not more important
than what you retire from.

Physical Activity: Most people associate physical activity to
living longer, but few realize that 25% of our heartbeats go to
the brain. So physical activity not only improves cardiovascular
and cerebral blood flow, but also increases circulation so the
brain cells receive more nutrients. Additionally, there is strong
evidence that exercise promotes neurogenesis – the growth of
new brain cells (neurons) and the connection between these
cells. While we all know exercise is good for us, what many
probably don’t know is how bad it is if we don’t do it. Dementia
risk is quadrupled among the least physically fit agers than
those who are even just moderately active.

Mental Stimulation: Challenging the brain through both novel
and complex activities such as learning a new language or
researching a trip and traveling also decreases the risk of
dementia.

Spirituality: In this fast-paced world, it’s essential to learn how to
slow down and connect within – be it through prayer or
meditation – both processes reduce stress and benefit our
overall health.

Nutrition: The physiological effect of a healthy diet also benefits
brain health, particularly by preserving the integrity of blood
vessels that transport oxygen to the brain. Well-known brain-
boosting foods such as fish (with its beneficial fatty acids and
omega threes) and antioxidant rich foods like fruits and
vegetables can significantly increase performance in memory
and learning.

So as we all explore this new adventure in longevity, we need
to continually rethink our route, recognize that we are the
navigators of our journey, and our mind is our constant guide.

Think about it.

Kelly Ferrin, gerontologist and author of “What’s Age Got To Do With It? Secrets to Aging in Extraordinary Ways” has been studying aging and retirement issues for over 25 years. She was one of the first to ever receive a degree in this field from the prestigious Andrus School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California, the top school in the nation for age-related studies.

website: kellyferrin.com ••• email: ageangel@earthlink.net