Habits That Can Age or Damage Your Brain

Leaves fall, and flowers bloom - a representation of life as we age, we lose something but gain something in return. As people age, changes in our body occur, such as when someone hits puberty, their body continues to grow and become stronger. In contrast, when an individual comes into old age, our bones and muscles go weaker when not properly cared for. But did you know that when we age, our brain is also affected?

According to brain facts, when we age, committing new information to memory and recalling the name and phone numbers can take longer. They added that as we enter midlife, the brain's overall volume or size begins to shrink. They further said that the number of connections and synapses between brain cells also drops, affecting or impairing learning and memory.

People do not usually notice the changes in the brain because we can't physically see it. That is why we typically continue with our routines without knowing that some activities can rapidly age our brains. If you do not want your brain to be older than you, some of the habits mentioned in active beat can age your brain. You might consider giving up some of them to keep your brain in tip-top shape.

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Sleep Depravity

Nothing sounds comfortable than a good night's sleep while snuggling in your blanket in the cold weather. However, for some people who consider themselves nocturnal and become more active at night, you might want to consider having a good night's sleep. According to Dana, sleep deprivation or lack of sleep impairs memory and decision making. They added that it also makes an individual irritable and moody. Live Science mentions a study showing that sleep deprivation gives the brain cells a hard time communicating effectively, which, according to them, can cause momentary mental lapses that disturb visual perception and memory.

Smoking

Smoking's effect on the heart and lungs is well known, but did you know that cigarettes can also affect the brain? Healthline mentions a study published in 2012 that shows middle-aged men smokers experience more hasty cognitive decline than non-smokers. They also said in another study that smokers have a 30% more increased risk of dementia.

Stress

Stress is a part of humanity and comes in different forms which affect health and, of course, the brain. According to the World Economic Forum, exposure to stress and stressful episodes of your life can rapidly age your brain, reducing your memory's efficiency. They added that exposure to grave stress leads to long-term alterations in the body that involves the hormone cortisol, which, according to WebMD, is responsible for controlling mood, motivation, and fear.

Diet

While the brain needs nutrients to function, you might want to think again if you have been slurping most of the food on the smorgasbord. According to a study published in npj science of food, caloric intake has large, lasting effects on cognition, mood, and emotion during important periods in development. Harvard Medical School added that if the brain is deprived of good-quality nutrition and free radicals and damages inflammatory cells are roaming around the brain's enclosed space, consequences should be expected.

Taking care of your body, especially the brain, can help you function even more in your daily activities. Keeping your brain younger, just like your skin, slowly will make your life even brighter by taking off these habits.

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