Brain Age and Why it’s Important
Shelley Charron, Technician
The importance of brain age is related to our cognitive abilities and overall brain health. Brain age refers to the biological age of the brain, which can be different from a person’s chronological age. Certain lifestyle factors such as stress, diet, exercise, and sleep can affect brain aging.
Knowing your brain age can help you identify potential cognitive decline and take measures to support brain health. Factors that affect brain age include genetics, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, engaging in mental activities, and seeking care for any underlying conditions, a person can may help slow down brain aging and support cognitive function.
WHY IS COGNITIVE FUNCTION SO IMPORTANT
Brain cognition refers to the mental processes or abilities associated with the brain that enable individuals to understand, reason, learn, remember, and make decisions. These processes involve various functions such as perception, attention, memory, language, and problem-solving that are all coordinated by the brain. Brain cognition is both conscious and unconscious mental processes and is critical for everyday functioning and survival.
Proper cognitive functioning is crucial for a variety of complex tasks, including learning, problem-solving, reasoning, planning, communication, and social interaction. Additionally, research has shown that healthy cognitive functioning is linked to overall well-being, including physical health, emotional regulation, and social adjustment. Therefore, cognition is important for functioning in daily life and achieving success in personal and professional realms.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAIN DECLINES
Numerous findings will show the following changes in the brain as it ages
> Mass of the brain – Brain mass shrinks especially the frontal lobe and hippocampus
> Cortical density – the outer ridged surface of the brain thins out thus slowing cognitive function
> White matter – Shrinkage of white matter may affect memory
> Neurotransmitter substances – Decreased production of neurotransmitter substances like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine may be associated with various neurological disorders
These can be common changes in the brain as we age, however, if testing shows your brains age has surpassed your biological age, there is a clear need for brain support through diet, lifestyle and supplementation/medication.
Some cause of cognitive decline are
> Poor diet, sleep and exercise/movement
> Aging
> Head injury
> Mental illnesses / Psychiatric illness
> (some common mental illnesses include dementia, Alzheimer’s, anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. These disorders can have various causes, including genetic factors, environmental factors, and trauma.
> Deficiencies in vitamins and other key nutrients
> Alcohol or drug abuse
HOW CAN WE STOP BRAIN AGE DECLINE
This is the part that makes us feel good…knowing we can change our brain’s outcome!
Research has shown that the brain has the ability to change during your entire life, growing new cells and making new connections. These changes are called neuroplasticity and can support cognitive functioning. You can compare this with how we are able to train our muscles. All this to say, if you test with our WAVi and see your brain’s age older than your biological age you can begin with the following to fire up the energy in your brain to make positive changes.
1. Exercise regularly: Exercise can support blood flow to the brain, stimulate the growth of new brain cells, and promote brain plasticity, which can help prevent cognitive decline.
2. Maintain a healthy diet: Eating a diet that is high in nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins can help protect the brain from damage and ease the risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
3. Challenge your brain: Engaging in mentally stimulating activities like playing games, puzzles, learning new skills, and reading can help keep your brain active.
4. Get enough sleep: Sleep is crucial for brain health, and getting enough quality sleep can help the brain repair and regenerate cells, consolidate memories, and prevent cognitive decline.
5. Ease stress: Chronic stress can have a negative impact on brain function and may raise the risk of cognitive decline. Practicing stress-reducing techniques like mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and spending time in nature can help protect the brain from stress.
6. Stay socially active: Social interaction and engagement can help stimulate the brain, support mood, and ease the risk of cognitive decline and depression.
Book a free 15-minute discovery call today to learn more about our WAVi Brain Scan – let’s get your brain health into better shape!