Use It or Lose It: Five Steps to Preventing Alzheimer's

You've seen the commercials--"A mind is a terrible thing to waste." Most of us agree, yet many people wander off into their later years leaving their minds behind. You probably know of someone who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease--a debilitating condition that robs otherwise healthy people of their mental capacities. What can be done to prevent Alzheimer's from taking your mind?

The brain is less than 2% of one's body weight yet it controls every aspect of life. Networks of blood vessels deliver oxygen to the 100 billion brain cells. Scientists continue their research into the brain and how it functions.

At the end of the brain cells are branch-like tentacles that the brain uses to communicate. You might consider this the networking cables of the brain. As we age, the brain continues to rewire itself by generating new neurons that continue to enable the brain to communicate effectively.

Like our muscles, the brain can atrophy if it isn't exercised. For that reason, researchers now suggest that people who regularly use their brains are less likely to suffer the symptoms of Alzheimer's.

So, what can you do to maintain your brain? Dr. Marian C. Diamond suggests the following:

1. Eat the right foods. Diets rich in protein, antioxidants, B vitamins, and calcium are beneficial to the brain. Soy nuts, peanuts, dairy products, egg yolks, liver, green tea, blueberries, strawberries, and grains all are potential sources of "brain food."

2. Exercise. Regular exercise increases the blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain. The hippocampus needs oxygen to function properly... and you want a healthy hippocampus! It is where short term memory and spatial awareness originate. Depending on your physical condition, exercise can take many forms. Swimming, walking, jogging, isometrics, going to a gym, and so forth all are possibilities for people of all ages.

3. Challenge your brain. Try working a crossword puzzle, brain teaser, or jigsaw puzzle. Take up a new interest by attending a continuing education class or read a book about a new subject. The brain needs new challenges in order to maintain its healthy processes.

4. Do something new. Newness, without excessive stress, has been shown to be beneficial to the brain's health. Many people get into routines that become predictable and boring. Scientists now say those routines are mentally unhealthy. Next time you go to the grocery store, start on the other side of the store and work backwards. It will be fun and your brain will thank you!

5. Give and receive love. Interaction with other people stimulates the brain and helps keep it healthy. By showing love to others we are forced to step outside our comfort zones and to make someone's needs more important than our own. Showing love is not only beneficial to the recipient, but also to the giver.

You see, a healthy brain is the product of a lifelong learning. In my classes and seminars, I often encounter people of all ages who are pushing themselves to learn something new. In doing so, they can anticipate a long life that becomes more and more rewarding as the years go by. Think about it!

Dr. Terry Hadaway is a leading authority on adult learning and a frequent conference leader and speaker. He teaches adult students at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee and is an author and educational consultant. For more information, visit http://www.thinkingboxmedia.com.