The Basics: Brain and Cognitive Health and Wellness

August 24, 2012

What time is it? What do I have to do today? What do I want to do today? How will I structure my time? How much money do I need to bring for dinner tonight? Where did I leave my keys? Why is blue so blue? Should I eat this…Questions. All day long we ask ourselves questions. We are in constant communication with ourselves through questions and answers. We think and we ponder. We daydream and plan. Our thoughts shape us, and in turn, we shape our thoughts. Sometimes we think things that make us laugh, smile, and feel joyous. At other times we think of things that make us fearful, ashamed, and embarrassed. We solve problems, make schedules, react to situations, and so on and so forth. This goes on each moment of each day. This is who we are, be it good or bad. We have the power to change, improve, and become better with our thinking and problem solving. We have the power to enhance our overall brain health.

Why is brain health so important? Bain health is important because we use our brains every moment of the day. From acknowledging that we are thirsty, to problem solving for calculus, our brains are a vital (and I do mean vital) part of our existence. It is important that we make our best effort to keep our brains healthy. We will perform better at our jobs, be able to problem solve more quickly, and be more effective in all that we do. This section of the blog is about maintaining or improving brain health.

We may not always have control over our minds. Some things about your brain are influenced by genetics, but other things can be influenced by healthy habits. I work with seniors (70 years old up to over 100 years old) on a regular basis, and it is so sad and frustrating to witness someone going through dementia. To hear stories of how people were in their youth, to know them when they were clear-minded older adults, and to witness their slow (or sometimes incredibly fast) descent into a world of confusion and irritability, followed by a return to infancy, is heartbreaking. In addition, sometimes our brains are physically attacked by objects or chemicals. We can’t always control what happens to our brains, but when we can control it, we should.

Things that will be covered in this section include:
– brain food
– brain activities
– declines in thinking skills
– problem solving
– the brain and blood flow

Don’t forget to like this post, and put your comments below.

~ Cece

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