Engage with your doctor about 12 crucial lifestyle factors to boost your brain health. From managing stress and diet to fostering social connections, this guide offers essential tips to keep your brain vibrant and healthy.
Improving your brain health this year can begin with a simple conversation with your neurologist or primary care physician about 12 key factors that protect brain health. These factors are highlighted in an article from the Emerging Issues in Neurology series, developed by the American Academy of Neurology and published in the December 16, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the Academy’s medical journal.
Expert Insights on Brain Health
“Neurologists are the experts in brain health, with the training and insight needed to help you keep your brain in top shape throughout life,” said Carlayne E. Jackson, M.D., FAAN, President of the American Academy of Neurology. “The American Academy of Neurology’s Brain Health Initiative is leading the way, improving brain health for all by providing neurologists with important information on preventive neurology. This article can serve as a great conversation starter for you and your physician about ways to keep your brain healthy.”
Key Factors for Brain Health
The article outlines 12 factors that influence a person’s brain health at all stages of life. It includes questions for each of the factors that you can discuss with your physician.
- Sleep: Are you able to get sufficient sleep to feel rested?
- Affect, mood, and mental health: Do you have concerns about your mood, anxiety, or stress?
- Food, diet, and supplements: Do you have concerns about getting enough or healthy enough food, or have any questions about supplements or vitamins?
- Exercise: Do you find ways to fit physical exercise into your life?
- Supportive social interactions: Do you have regular contact with close friends or family, and do you have enough support from people?
- Trauma avoidance: Do you wear seatbelts and helmets, and use car seats for children?
- Blood pressure: Have you had problems with high blood pressure at home or at doctor visits, or do you have any concerns about blood pressure treatment or getting a blood pressure cuff at home?
- Risks, genetic and metabolic factors: Do you have trouble controlling blood sugar or cholesterol? Is there a neurological disease that runs in your family?
- Affordability and adherence: Do you have any trouble with the cost of your medicines?
- Infection: Are you up to date on vaccines, and do you have enough information about those vaccines?
- Negative exposures: Do you smoke, drink more than one to two drinks per day, or use nonprescription drugs? Do you drink well water, or live in an area with known air or water pollution?
- Social and structural determinants of health: Do you have concerns about keeping housing, having transportation, having access to care and medical insurance, or being physically or emotionally safe from harm?
By discussing these factors with your neurologist or primary care physician, they can then provide advice, medical care, and resources to help you take steps to improve your brain health.
Conclusion: Improving National Brain Health
“Continued advocacy by neurologists, including efforts to fund scientific research and improve access to health care, improves brain health on a national level,” said author Linda M. Selwa, MD, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “Our article shows there are many ways to improve brain health individually. Resolving to improve your brain health in the new year is a great start.”
The Emerging Issues in Neurology article was developed by the American Academy of Neurology.
Reference: “The Neurologist’s Role in Promoting Brain HealthEmerging Issues in Neurology” by Linda M. Selwa, Brenda L. Banwell, Meeryo Choe, Louise D. McCullough, Sara Merchant, Bruce Ovbiagele, Joel Salinas, Ann H. Tilton and Gregory Scott Day, 16 December 2024, Neurology.
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000210226
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1 Comment
Anyone who can read these questions can answer for themselves. The latest research is generally available online, and SciTechDaily readers are capable.
The doctors authoring this article are aware they have no cure for this list. Symptoms can be treated, mostly by causing new lifelong medical conditions, but they can’t fix it. To be fair to them, anyone having to ask a neurologist these questions probably already has a brain problem, and recognizing lifestyle causes is a big deal. The answers are mostly in the list, but if you have any problem included in their list, then think about what your best friend would say:
If you don’t get enough sleep, try to sleep more. If you have mood, anxiety, or stress issues, fix anything causing those. If you’re not eating healthy, eat healthy. If you don’t exercise, exercise. If you don’t interact socially, try. Wear your seatbelt in cars, and always wear a helmet if you’re that type of person who needs to. If you have hypertension, fix your risk factors, and if it’s still high then treat it. If you’re diabetic, fix your risk factors and then treat it if you’re still diabetic. If you can’t afford your medications, then find others, or use natural treatments, or get more money. If you’re unvaccinated, research each vaccine and decide what to do. If you smoke tobacco, drink alcohol, and use illicit drugs, don’t. Don’t drink unsafe water or breathe bad air. If you’re unhoused, immobile, unable to access medical care, and are physically and emotionally unsafe, then stop worrying about your brain health and fix those first, because you’re a real downer. If your best friend would never say these things, get a better best friend. Your doctor can’t fix any of these, and doesn’t have to, so don’t waste their time, or yours on their magic pills causing some new disease. You’re responsible for fixing you and only you can. It’s harsh, sorry, but at least someone believes in you.