ThirstySouls
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The Brain As We Age
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The Brain As We Age
Brain health has gained a special place in my heart. Both of my parents had dementia before passing away. I understand what it’s like to lose someone twice; once before they die and when they die. This also concerns me as I’m aging, because I don’t want my children to have to go through what I went through with my parents. The big question in my mind is whether I can do anything to prevent this from happening.
“Dementia is caused by many different diseases or injuries that directly and indirectly damage the brain. Alzheimer disease is the most common form and may contribute to 60–70% of cases. Other forms include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies (abnormal deposits of protein inside nerve cells), and a group of diseases that contribute to frontotemporal dementia (degeneration of the frontal lobe of the brain). Dementia may also develop after a stroke or in the context of certain infections such as HIV, as a result of harmful use of alcohol, repetitive physical injuries to the brain (known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy) or nutritional deficiencies. The boundaries between different forms of dementia are indistinct and mixed forms often co-exist.” World Health Organization; https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia#:~:text=Dementia%20is%20caused%20by%20many,mixed%20forms%20often%20co%2Dexist.
It should be stated up front that there is no cure for dementia. However, clinical studies have shown that certain life changes can slow or even prevent the progression of dementia. The purpose of this discussion area is to provide a place to explore options and examine personal changes with clinical backing. Most of the information I have found suggests that these 7 items are important not only for brain health but also for heart health.
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Exercising regularly
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Eating healthily
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Not smoking
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Maintaining a healthy weight
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Keeping blood pressure in check
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Having healthy cholesterol levels
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Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels
Other suggestions for the brain include:
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Sleep well
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Challenge your mind
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Protect your head
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Oral hygiene
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Probably more
The main consensus is that dementia can be slowed down and possibly prevented by physical lifestyle changes, which we can make, and by changes in our perceptions and beliefs. For example, if we don’t believe that nothing can make things better, we are right. But if we believe that there could be something that would make things better, we are right. It’s more about what we believe to be true than what is actually true. Both science and scripture tell us that our physical health and our mental health can be improved by the way we think.
I recently went through a procedure to replace my aortic valve. If I didn’t believe that the procedure could work, or if I didn’t believe that the surgeon was capable of doing the procedure, I would not have had it done. Then I would still have a faulty aortic valve. But I did believe in the surgeon and his recommendation that I have the procedure. The result is that I have a valve that is functioning properly and that will make my life better.
So what makes the difference in what we believe? How did we come to that particular belief? Are we willing to examine our beliefs and change them based on facts? I have said (jokingly) “My mind is made up. Don’t confuse me with the facts.” At times, that may have been more true than I would like to admit. Our beliefs can be based on many things: our childhood, education, culture, religious training, etc. When we refuse to consider new information, we stop learning.
This morning, I was explaining to my grandchildren that much of the science that they are learning now was not even discovered when I was in school. That explains at least part of the reason why I don’t know some of the things they know. But that doesn’t have to stop me from learning now. One of the things that could stop me is if I believe that I am too old to learn new information. That’s not to say that I’m going to learn Quantum Theory, but I could if I chose to.
My hope for this discussion area is to present some clinical studies that give information about how the suggestions above can make a difference to our aging brains. You don’t have to be old to begin thinking about protecting your physical health or your mental health. Please feel free to join in and share information that you have found. Ask questions and make comments. Please try to be kind and helpful, always thinking of others.
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1 Reply
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Healthy Body – Healthy Brain
Most people would be thrilled to live eternally if they knew they would retain their health, vitality, strength, and abilities.
Jennings MD, Timothy R.. The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind (pp. 20-21). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
For our purposes, we are going to be talking about “functional aging—the slow decline in vitality and ability.”
Jennings MD, Timothy R.. The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind (p. 21). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Most people think of aging as something that just happens. We watch others age and see the decline, and think, “That will be me someday.” Chronological age is inevitable, but we make choices every day that influence “functional aging.” As stated in the first article, dementia is not curable. However, there are choices we can make and things we can do to slow or even avoid dementia. There are always exceptions, like brain trauma and certain diseases.
While time passes at a constant rate for every person, not every person ages at the same rate. Life experiences and the choices we make affect our passage through time and can slow or accelerate our aging—the gradual loss of vitality and ability.
Jennings MD, Timothy R.. The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind (p. 21). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
In this article, I want to look at how our physical health affects our brain health. There is a certain law or principle that we need to understand as we begin. It’s called “Design Law.” What is design law, and how does it affect our brain? Simply put, design law says that things are designed to work in a certain way.
Think about your car. Why don’t we use water to power our cars instead of gasoline? Water is a lot cheaper, so why not use it? We don’t use water because our cars are not designed to run on water. In fact, getting any water in the engine of a car can cause major damage to that engine. Intentionally putting water in our gas tanks would immediately void any warranty.
Design law says that our brains are designed to work in a certain way. This law holds true whether you believe in a Creator or not. Science tells us that our brains cannot be truly healthy if our bodies are not healthy. Why is that true? Our bodies are designed for the brain. Consider this: “brain? Because the primary purpose of every organ system of the body is to serve the brain: the lungs breathe and the heart beats in order to provide oxygen and nutrients to the brain. The legs move the brain from place to place while the arms allow the brain to interact with the world. The primary function of our eyes and ears is to provide data input to the brain.”
Jennings MD, Timothy R.. The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind (p. 22). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
It only makes sense that whatever undermines the body’s health will also undermine the brain’s health and function. It is true that we don’t have control over everything, but we do have choices that can influence the health of our bodies and, therefore, our brains.
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Good dental hygiene – research has found that those “with the fewest teeth had the highest risk of prevalence and incidence of dementia.”
Jennings MD, Timothy R.. The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind (p. 23). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
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Diet – Eating a big Thanksgiving meal once a year will not significantly affect our overall health, but a healthy meal once per year will not affect our overall health if our daily diet is made up of junk food.
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Stay away from tobacco, illegal drugs, and heavy alcohol use.
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Exercise your body and your brain – The law of exertion is simply this: if you want something to get stronger you must exercise it.
Jennings MD, Timothy R.. The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind (p. 26). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Stop and ask yourself this question: “Am I currently involved in any activity that I know is unhealthy?” If so, why? What are you willing to do to improve the health of your body and your brain?
As you may have noticed, I have quoted several references from the book, The Aging Brain by Dr. Timothy R. Jennings. Though you may not accept everything Dr. Jennings talks about, I would highly recommend this book. I get nothing for promoting his book, but I would like to suggest books that I have found helpful in my journey to mental health.
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