The loss of mental acuity, concentration and focus is marked as you age into your senior years, and leads to the onset of conditions like dementia. According to a study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, this effect will lead to 81m diagnoses of dementia by 2040. Recent science has suggested a wealth of engaging solutions to keep the brain engaged and focused, but how many are effective?
The benefits for seniors in investing in their mental health is improved mental acuity, the mitigation of degenerative conditions and even improved physical condition. The focus that senior mental health concerns are now receiving has had huge benefits in the field. Taking care of your mind is straightforward and flexible.
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Looking at your diet
The small factors in your diet play a crucial part in keeping your mind healthy. A groundbreaking study by Harvard established that many of the vitamins and minerals found in the Mediterranean diet helped to improve memory and mitigate dementia. Similarly, vitamins and supplements including stimulants and nootropics can assist. When done in moderation, either through a top rated brain pill and brain supplement, caffeine, or the pectins found in wine and certain chocolates, your brain can be assisted in the long run.
It’s important to remember that you can treat yourself and relax in your senior years while still turning to a healthier diet. Olive oil, lean meat and high quality grains can be delicious and provide you with a balanced, brain-positive diet. You don’t need to sacrifice taste for health.
Keeping the mind active
One of the most important activities for keeping your mind sharp is activity itself. Turning your focus to different hobbies, pastimes and experiences will help to keep your mind engaged and switched on. This is especially important, where science has linked smartphone and television use to imbalances that ultimately lead to memory loss and dementia. Retirement is an opportunity to take part in activities that you may have felt too starved of time to complete in the past, but don’t be overly tempted to stagnate in front of a screen. Keep reading, take vacations, try out new hobbies – even if you don’t like them. You basically want to stay as curious as you can, and ensure you’re engaging with the world around you.
The value of exercise
There is no better way to engage with what life has to offer than physically getting up and close with it. This is achieved through exercise as simple as walking or gardening, and even gentle activities like these have demonstrable positives for mental sharpness. Any form of exercise can aid here, though ones where you have the opportunity to interact and think as you work – like walking – have the benefit of engaging the brain. As NBC report, even powerlifting improves mental health so there’s no way you can go wrong. Just remember to stay safe.
Your concentration and overall mental sharpness can suffer as you age. Preserving them isn’t difficult, though, and science shows that a healthy diet is key, as is staying engaged. That doesn’t mean sacrificing your happiness, and in fact, staying brain-healthy can be a delicious and exciting prospect.