Forever Young May 2012

Forever Young

Quest for Great Aging May 2012

 

In the quest for great aging, we often focus on what we see in the mirror.   Not that appearance is a bad thing, particularly from my vantage point as a plastic surgeon where the aesthetic appearance is a large part of my practice.  Working out at the gym to tone the muscles, proper diet to trim the waist, advanced skin treatments to make our skin glow round out our goals for great aging, right?

 

Well, there is one part of our body that we cannot forget about in our quest for great aging, the brain.  Here are a few interesting facts.  Apparently when god created us, he did not spare any effort in creating our brain.  Did you know that the brain receives 25% of the blood that is pumped from the heart with every beat? That is significant when you consider that the brain, which weighs in at an average of 3 pounds, is less than 2% of the total body weight for an average human (or even less for some).  Why so much?  Perhaps it is because the brain plays a role in most body functions including basal controls like heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and sleeping as well as higher brain functions, including emotions, reasoning, analysis and flight or fight response in emergencies, all of which require good brain health to get the tasks done.  

 

So when we are looking at our life cycle and our hopes for a long healthy productive life, we need to focus on brain health first and foremost, not only to enjoy life but also to fend off dementia, which can surely put a damper on our later years.  Loss of cognitive abilities can make those 'golden years' not so golden!

 

If you are still reading this column, then I have to assume I have piqued your interests and stimulated your cerebral cortex to learn more.  Because our brain is affected by the type of environmental stimuli we are exposed to, there are things we know that we can and must do for great brain health.  So here are 5 ways to save you brain and maintain good brain function.

 

Physical activity- keeping your body active will help the circulation of blood flow to the brain.  Studies show that regular walking can reduce the risk of dementia.  Get yourself a pedometer to measure your steps during the day.  Aim daily for 9000 steps.  Find physical activities you can enjoy besides traditional exercise, such as working in the garden, dancing, hiking or biking.

 

Mental activity- crossword puzzles can keep the mind alert, but try activities that involve many senses, such as playing musical instruments, or travelling.  Exposure to unique environments with travel to get you out of your routine will not only keep the mind alert, but will help grow the mind with new and unique experiences.

 

Social interaction- staying in touch with family and friends and meeting on a daily basis will stimulate the mind.  Early retirement can lead to early dementia.  Stay active with fun hobbies and working with community groups and volunteering to keep involved.

 

Spirituality- Make sure your day includes some downtime to relax, reflect, pray or meditate. Attending regular worship services will help promote your spiritual health and keep you socially active.  Stretching, yoga classes and sleep can improve your mind and quality of life.

 

Nutrition- excuse the pun, but here is some 'Food for Thought'.  Make sure your diet includes some of the healthy 'brain food'.  Make sure your plate is filled with lots of colorful foods.  Fruits and vegetables with color contain antioxidants, which are good for the entire body, especially the brain.  Take in Omega fatty acids, in the form of fish and unsalted nuts several times per week.  Supplements containing Omega fish oil can also be used.  Try to cut back on the amount of food you eat as well as the amount of processed foods and red meat.  Caloric restriction has been shown to increase longevity, so portion control is a must. 

 

Taking the time to learn more about longevity and brain health will in itself be part of the process of warding off dementia.  Go to the bookstores, surf the Internet, read books and magazines and share what you have learned with your loved ones during a brisk walk or at the gym.  And of course, don't stop reading this column while I continue to share ideas on health and wellness in our quest for great aging.

Be well buffalo!

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