Keep Your Mind in Shape: Tips to Prevent Cognitive Decline

Mar 26, 2024

Keep Your Mind in Shape: Keys to Preventing Cognitive Decline

Have you noticed that, with age, our minds seem to slow down? It's as if words are hidden or ideas become more elusive. And this is because the brain, like the rest of the body, changes with age.

But what happens when these episodes become more frequent and memory problems or alterations in thinking begin to affect our quality of life? Cognitive impairment is a term that refers to the decline in mental abilities, such as memory, reasoning, attention, and language. This deterioration manifests itself with frequent forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, problems finding words or difficulties making decisions.

Some people may be aware that they have lost or are losing their ability to remember or concentrate. Family and friends may also notice these changes. When that happens, it is best to seek professional help because mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can be the result of a neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's, but it can also be due to a reversible problem, such as vitamin deficiency, sleep disorders, or side effects of some medications.

How Do You Know If You Have a Mild Cognitive Impairment That Should Be Worrying About?

Pay attention to these symptoms:

You have more frequent forgetfulness.
You forget to go to appointments or social events.
You find it difficult to follow the plot of a book or movie.
You have difficulty following a conversation.
You have difficulty completing tasks and/or following instructions.
You find it difficult to orient yourself in places you know well.
Family and friends notice any of these changes.

Is It Possible to Prevent Cognitive Decline?

Of course it is possible. According to some studies carried out, playing games such as sudoku or filling out crossword puzzles, playing an instrument, reading books, talking and doing activities that put our memory and concentration into action can help preserve brain function.

Pay attention to these 8 recommendations from specialists, none of them require great sacrifices, just the will and desire to keep your brain in shape:

Healthy diet :

Incorporate antioxidant-rich foods into your diet, such as colorful fruits and vegetables, to help combat oxidative stress, which is implicated in age-related cognitive decline.

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish such as salmon, walnuts, and flax seeds, are essential for brain health and can help reduce inflammation and improve cognitive function.

Additionally, complement your diet with nutritional supplements that are responsible for providing your body with B vitamins, especially B6, B9 (folic acid) and B12, which are very important for brain health.

At Zenzsual we think about physical and mental well-being and that is why we develop our multivitamin gummies that have niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12 and biotin, among other vitamins that boost metabolism and support the formation of red blood cells. and keep your brain active.

You can also incorporate Zenzsual turmeric, ginger and black pepper gummies into your care routine, which in addition to being delicious are a dietary supplement. Have you heard about the benefits of turmeric? Some research suggests that curcumin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could be helpful for brain health.

Physical exercise:

Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which can promote the growth of new brain cells and improve cognitive function. The brain ages but it can also exercise, oxygenate and renew itself.

Studies have shown that aerobic exercise, such as walking, running or swimming, can help improve memory, attention and reaction time.

Specialists recommend investing 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week (a 30-minute walk, 5 days a week), it is ideal to maintain brain health.

Mental Stimulation:

Stimulating mental activity can help strengthen connections between brain cells and promote neuroplasticity. It is proven that activities such as reading, doing crossword puzzles, learning a new language or playing a musical instrument can help improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of dementia.

Keeping your mind active throughout life can be especially beneficial.

Socialization:

Maintaining active social relationships is crucial for cognitive health. Social interaction stimulates the brain, promotes communication and helps maintain social skills. Social isolation can contribute to cognitive decline and increase the risk of depression. People who are socially active tend to have better overall cognitive health.

Adequate Sleep:

Adequate sleep is crucial for memory consolidation and optimal cognitive functioning.

Lack of sleep can negatively affect attention, concentration, and decision making (read more).

The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night for adults to maintain brain health and prevent cognitive decline.

Stress Control:

We all know that chronic stress can have negative effects on the brain, but it even affects the volume of the hippocampus, a brain region important for memory and learning.

Stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga and deep breathing can help reduce stress levels.

Take a few drops of CBD:

CBD oil (cannabidiol), a non-psychoactive compound derived from hemp, is widely known for its potential to relieve stress, anxiety, and promote deep sleep.

Additionally, some studies suggest that CBD may have neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects on the brain, which could help prevent cognitive decline.

Learn new things:

Encouraging the acquisition of new knowledge and skills is a great way to keep the brain active and healthy. Learning new things challenges the brain and promotes brain plasticity.

Taking a few drops of our CBD Zen and your vitamins every day, added to stress management techniques, doing exercises and stimulating your mind with games, books, activities and stimulating conversations with friends (and even strangers) will make your brain Keep it in shape and prepared for the normal deterioration of the passing years.

To preserve your mental agility and protect your brain from cognitive decline, it is essential to act now. Share these keys with your loved ones and join the movement to keep our minds in shape. Take care of your brain, share knowledge and together let's keep our minds active and healthy to enjoy a full life full of vitality!