The brain is like a muscle, it needs to be trained, looked after and built up. And, like muscle if you don’t look after it properly you can damage it or possibly even cause serious mental issues. These could be emotional, or they might even impact how they use your brain to control the body. In many mental disorders, motor control is one of the most common issues that patients must come to terms with. This is certainly true for everything from ALS to dementia.
Unfortunately, research and the medical world is still quite sketchy on what causes mental deterioration and the decline of cognitive function. But, there is certain evidence to suggest that you can take steps to reduce the chances of you developing some of the more serious issues like dementia.
Antioxidants
Certain foods including fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants. These strange molecules fight against the oxygenation of cells in the body. In doing so, they can prevent serious health issues that have become more prevalent in recent years including cancer, and yes even dementia. Researchers strongly believe that oxygenation is one of the main causes of grey matter deterioration in the brain and this has been linked with the development of Alzheimer’s. The deterioration of grey matter is what causes the early stages of Alzheimer’s including symptoms such as memory loss.
The best way to make sure that you are getting antioxidants is to eat a full and well-balanced diet that included multiple nutrients, minerals and vitamins. That way, you will have everything your body needs to fight off the impact of oxygenation in the brain.
Brain Teasers And Puzzles
Do you ever hate it when someone gives you a puzzle or a brain teaser as a gift at Christmas or your birthday? As it turns out, this gift giver could actually be doing a massive favour. Studies do show that by keeping the brain active, you can reduce the chances of mental deterioration dramatically. It could even be beneficial to play computer games or watch a TV show if it is making you think actively. A great example of a show like this would be Sherlock Holmes because it encourages the audience to try and solve the mystery at the same time as the character.
Avoiding Stress
If you constantly feel stressed you will be doing more damage than you know to your mental and physical health, Studies have shown that people who experience a great deal of stress are more susceptible to mental health issues.
This is why if you do start showing signs of a mental issue like dementia, a dementia specialist may speak with you about meditation. While meditation cannot stop the disease, it may slow it down, in part due to the fact that it is a way of dealing with the stress in your life.
As you can see, there are numerous possibilities that you can look into and ways to protect your mental health. Unfortunately, none of these will guarantee that you will not develop mental health issues especially later in life. In fact, once you reach 80 it becomes somewhat inevitable. However, these possibilities will give you the best hope.
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