Wrinkles With Wisdom with David Lereah

10. Is Your Brain Getting Older Too? 10 Ways To Support Brain Health After 55

Episode Summary

Your brain changes as you get older, but there are everyday habits that can help you stay mentally engaged, connected, and curious. Explore 10 practical ways to support your brain health after 55, from movement and sleep to social connection, stress management, learning, and having a reason to get up in the morning.

Episode Notes

Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten why you went there?

Picked up your phone and completely forgotten what you were about to do?

Or seen someone you know, only to realize their name has temporarily disappeared from your brain?

You are definitely not the only one.

This conversation is about supporting your brain health as you age and staying mentally engaged with the world around you.

It is not about diagnosing or preventing dementia. Occasional forgetfulness can happen as you get older, but significant or worsening changes in memory, thinking, judgment, communication, behavior, or everyday functioning deserve professional attention.

For everything else, there are simple habits you can build into your life that support your overall brain health.

You will discover 10 ways to support your brain after 55:

1. Keep moving
   Walking, swimming, cycling, strength training, or another form of safe physical activity can help you keep your body and mind engaged.
2. Keep challenging your brain
   Read. Learn a language. Play an instrument. Try photography. Do puzzles. Learn new technology. Your brain does not have to retire when you do.
3. Get enough sleep
   Your brain needs rest too. Pay attention to your sleep habits instead of automatically accepting poor sleep as part of getting older.
4. Stay socially connected
   Call the friend. Invite someone to lunch. Volunteer. Go for a walk together. Human connection matters, especially as your world and relationships change.
5. Eat with your overall health in mind
   There is no single magic food that suddenly gives you a perfect memory. Focus instead on an overall eating pattern built around nutritious foods and moderation.
6. Know your health numbers
   Blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar are worth paying attention to as part of taking care of your overall health.
7. Take care of your hearing and vision
   Glasses and hearing aids are not signs that you have somehow failed at aging. They are tools that can help you stay connected to conversations, activities, reading, and the world around you.
8. Manage stress
   Walk. Exercise. Meditate. Listen to music. Spend time outside. Be with people you love. And occasionally learn the very useful phrase, “That’s not my problem.”
9. Do not smoke and be thoughtful about alcohol
   The goal at this stage of life is not to win a drinking contest. It is to give yourself the best chance to enjoy the years ahead.
10. Have a reason to get up in the morning
    A project. A trip. A hobby. Your grandchildren. Volunteering. Learning something new. Helping someone. Starting something you have always wanted to try.

Retirement should not mean retiring from life.

And supporting your brain does not require becoming a completely different person tomorrow.

Pick one thing.

Take the walk. Call the friend. Learn something new. Make the appointment you have been putting off. Find something that gives you a reason to stay curious and connected.

These tips are about supporting brain health, not diagnosing dementia or another medical condition. If you or someone close to you is experiencing significant or worsening changes in memory, thinking, behavior, communication, judgment, or the ability to manage everyday activities, talk with a qualified healthcare professional.

Every wrinkle carries a story. Every year gives you more experience. And aging well means giving the person you are today the best chance to stay healthy, curious, connected, and fully alive.