Brain Health AS You Age:

You Can Make a

Difference!
A presentation by:

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 Aging and Health

Aging well depends on your:

Genes
Environment
Lifestyle

Healthy lifestyle choices may help

you maintain a healthy body and
brain 2
 Age-Related Changes in
Memory and Learning

You may find:

Increased difficulty finding words
More problems in multi-tasking
Mild decreases in ability to pay attention

You can still:

Learn new things
Create new memories
Improve vocabulary and language
skills
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 Possible Risks or Threats
to Brain Health

Some medicines, or improper use of them

Smoking
Excessive use of alcohol
Heart disease, diabetes, and other health
problems
Poor diet
Insufficient sleep
Lack of physical activity
Little social activity and being alone most of
the time 4
 Medicines and Brain Health

Some medicines and combinations

of them can affect your thinking and
the way your brain works.

Talk with your health care

provider about the drugs you
take and possible side effects
on memory, sleep and brain
function.
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 Smoking and Brain Health
Benefits of quitting smoking at any age:
Lower risk of heart attacks, stroke, and lung
disease
Better blood circulation
Not exposing others to second-hand smoke

There are free resources available

to help you quit smoking.

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Alcohols Effect on Brain Health
Slow or impaired communication among
brain cells, even with moderate use
Poor driving, slurred speech, fuzzy memory,
drowsiness, dizziness
Long-term changes to balance, memory and
emotions, coordination, and body
temperature

Staying away from alcohol can reverse some

changes.
Some medicines can be dangerous when mixed with alcohol.

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 Common Conditions
that Affect Brain Health
Heart disease, high blood pressure
Diabetes
Alzheimers disease
Stroke
Traumatic brain injury
Depression
Sleep problems
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 Heart Disease and
High Blood Pressure
Heart disease and high blood pressure can
lead to stroke and blood vessel changes
related to dementia.

How to reduce risk:

Control cholesterol and high blood pressure
Exercise
Eat healthy foods
Quit smoking
Limit use of alcohol
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 Diabetes
Damages blood vessels throughout your
body, including your brain
Increases risk for stroke and heart attack
May increase risk for memory problems
and Alzheimers disease
Maintaining a healthy weight through
physical activity and healthy eating can
prevent or control diabetes
Talk with your health care provider about the
combination of lifestyle and medicine that works
for you.
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 Alzheimers Disease
Alzheimers is a buildup of harmful proteins in the
brain, the death of brain cells, and loss of connections
among them.
Known risks:
Age
Genes, in some people
Head injury
Suspected risks:
Heart disease
High blood pressure at mid-life
Lack of physical activity
Depression
Diabetes
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 Alzheimers Disease
(continued)

Some therapies can treat Alzheimers symptoms.

They do not slow down the diseases changes in
the brain.
Some approaches show promise in reducing risk of
cognitive decline or Alzheimers, but need more
testing:
Exercise
Healthy diet
Controlling high blood pressure, heart disease,
diabetes
Cognitive brain training
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 Brain Injury
Older adults are at higher risk of falling and
other accidents that can cause brain injury

How to reduce risk:

Exercise to improve balance and
coordination
Take a fall prevention class
Make your home safer
Review medicines and vision with your
health care provider
Wear safety belts and helmets
Get enough sleep
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 Depression
Feelings of sadness or loss of interest in
favored activities that last for weeks at
a time
Not a normal part of aging
Some medicines can
cause depression
Confusion or attention
problems caused by
depression can
sometimes
Treatment canlook like
involve therapy and medicine
dementia
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 Sleep Apnea
Short pauses in breathing while sleeping
Can lead to injury, high blood pressure,
stroke, or memory loss, all of which can
affect brain health
Treatment begins with lifestyle changes,
such as avoiding alcohol, losing weight,
and quitting smoking
Use of special devices, ordered by your
doctor, may also help
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 So, What Can You Do
to Protect Brain Health?

Actions that may help:

Take care of your health
Eat healthy foods
Be active
Learn new things
Connect with family, friends, and
communities 16
 Take Care of Your Health
Get recommended health screenings
Manage health problems like diabetes,
high blood pressure, and high
cholesterol
Consult with your health care provider
to make sure your medicines are right
for you
Reduce risk for brain injuries due to
falls, and other types of accidents
Quit smoking
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 Eat Healthily
Fruits and vegetables
Whole grains
Lean meats, fish, poultry
Low-fat or non-fat dairy products
Less solid fat, sugar and salt
Proper portion sizes
Adequate fluids

Look into healthy meal programs, like those

provided by your Area Agency on Aging.
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 Get Moving
Physical activity may:
Reduce risks of diabetes, heart disease,
depression, and stroke
Prevent falls
Improve connections among brain cells
Get at least 150 minutes of exercise each week.
Move about 30 minutes on most days. Walking is a
good start.
Join programs that can help you learn to move safely.
Check with your health care provider if you havent
been active and want to start a vigorous exercise
program.
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 Keep Your Mind Active
Do mentally stimulating activities
Read books and magazines
Play games
Learn new things
Take or teach a class
Be social through work or volunteering

Clinical trials have not proven that these

types of activities will prevent Alzheimers
disease, but they can be fun.
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 Stay Connected
People who have meaningful
activities, like volunteering, say they
feel happier and healthier
Social activities are linked to reduced
risk for some health problems,
including dementia
Join in social and other programs
through your Area Agency on Aging,
Senior Center, or other community
organizations
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 What Can You Do Today?
Pick one thing you can do that may help your
brain
Think of small, first steps such as:
Taking a 10-minute walk a few times a week
Adding one serving of vegetables each day
Making an appointment for health screenings or
a physical exam

Write down what you will do and when

Get support from family, friends, or
community groups!
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 For More Information
Community Programs:
Contact a local Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
Contact a local Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC)
Or, go to http://eldercare.gov/

National Institutes of Health: http://nih.gov

National Institute on Aging at NIH: http://nia.nih.gov

ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of NIH: http://clinicaltrials.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

http://www.cdc.gov/aging
http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity
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