1. THINK PREVENTION - Think prevention, rather than cure. It is much easier to prevent damage to your brain than it is repair it or cure the effects once the damage goes too far.
2. ADOPT A BRAIN HEALTHY LIFESTYLE – Bad News: Sorry, there is no magic brain health pill. Good News: The one, proven approach that works is making changes to your own behavior. You need to adopt and sustain a brain-healthy lifestyle.
3. CUT RISKS AND IMPROVE BRAIN HEALTH- One trick to keeping your brain healthy is not really a trick at all. Deliberately limit your exposure to things that put your brain at risk in the first place.
4. INCREASE PROTECTION TO BUILD A BIG, RESILIENT BRAIN - You also need to stimulate positive plasticity growth of your brain and nervous system. Bigger brain systems are more resistant to damage and more resilient whenever damage or disease occurs.
5. COORDINATE - Your brain, nervous system and body function through the coordinated action of many complex operating systems. Change one system and the others are affected. Consequently, you need to take care of all of the systems in a coordinated or “combinatorial” manner.
MINDRAMP’S ESSENTIAL COGWHEELS OF BRAIN HEALTH ©
Just what behaviors and lifestyles changes can minimize risks and maximize protection? MINDRAMP clusters the required changes around six core areas we call the essential CogWheels of Brain Health. Remember, that all of the CogWheels need to be addressed and working well together to keep your brain healthy and give it a chance to grow stronger.
Stress Management - Growth and development occur in response to what we call “benign stress,” low levels of stress that stimulate repair and strengthening of body and brain. Chronic, unrelieved stress, however, is toxic to your brain (and body) and is implicated in almost all conditions that contribute to cognitive decline. Manage stress to protect your brain and encourage mental development.
Physical Exercise / Movement - Our brains evolved largely to promote meaningful movement. When we move, the brain, nervous system and body engage in constant two-way communication that keeps the entire system healthy and vital. The absence of movement signals the brain to shut down. Move!
Mental Development / Stimulation - Mental challenge (benign stress) grows and strengthens brain structures and networked connections enabling us to think more deeply and creatively. The more healthy brain structures we have, the more resilient the brain becomes and the better it can compensate for natural wear & tear and age-related diseases.
Social Engagement - Human beings evolved as social beings. We thrive when engaged with others and become stressed when isolated or lonely. The need to negotiate complex social relationships probably stimulated the evolution of our large, complex brains. Social exchange stimulates the brain.
Diet & Nutrition - You are what you eat - what you ingest. Our brain is altered by the food we eat, the air we breathe, the liquids we drink and the environmental conditions we are exposed to. Brain health requires mindful ingestion promotes health of body and mind.
Sleep & Mental Rest - Memory and learning is consolidated during sleep. Brain and body are restored and repaired during sleep and toxic waste products are flushed from the brain during sleep. Sleep is critical to health and well being.
For an in-depth examination of the essential CogWheels of Brain Health, and the MINDRAMP approach to brain health, check out our book eBook STRONG BRAINS, SHARP MINDS at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/503385