It’s Brain Awareness Week: 3 ways to maintain brain health as you age

It is Brain Awareness Week, a global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. There are several ways to maintain brain health including exercise, sleep and social interaction.  We have rounded-up the latest research in each area to help you stay informed.

Exercise and the brain
A key part of healthy aging is keeping your brain healthy. Your lifestyle can influence the cognitive changes that come with age – giving you the power to keep your mind sharp. Exercise is a great way to keep the body fit and healthy. If that isn’t enough motivation to get you moving, the possible added benefit to your cognitive function just might!

How sleep affects the brain
Sleep is important to achieving optimal health. While it’s important to note that sleeping patterns are unique to each individual, they can also be a symptom of health problems, including neurodegenerative diseases, unhealthy weight and associated sleep apnea, and side effects from medication.

Benefits of social interaction
Social activities such as volunteering promote a sense of accomplishment, help to break isolation, improve physical and psychological health, and reduce some of the negative stereotypes associated with aging. By doing things like volunteering, you can stay socially connected and help maintain your cognitive health.


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DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.