Brain Health Facts
Brain health refers to how well a person's brain functions across several areas. Aspects of brain health include:
- Cognitive health – how well a person thinks, learns and remembers;
- Motor function – how well a person makes and controls their movements, including balance;
- Emotional function – how well a person interprets and responds to emotions (both pleasant and unpleasant); and
- Tactile function – how well a person feels and responds to sensations of touch, including pleasure, pain and temperature.
Brain health can be affected by age-related changes in the brain; injuries, such as stroke or traumatic brain injury; mood disorders, like depression, substance abuse or addiction; and diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease.
Maintaining Brain Health
Recommend the steps below to help your patients maintain their brain health:
- Encourage and monitor physical activity.
- Monitor blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol levels to reduce and manage the risk for cardiovascular diseases.
- Ask about any changes they have noticed in their cognitive abilities or memory.
- Regularly review their current health conditions and talk about any medications and supplements being taken that may impact cognitive health.
- Encourage activities that promote staying socially and intellectually engaged.
- Ask about sleep habits and recommend getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night.