Preventative Measures That Can Help Promote Better Brain Health
by
PSN Team 
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Making healthy choices and managing health issues are among the most critical steps in promoting brain health. The more preventative actions you take, the more significant the impact on the brain. Controlling risk factors can help mitigate cognitive decline.
Teens and adults should avoid smoking, alcohol, and other substances. From childhood onward, maintaining a healthy weight, managing blood sugar levels, keeping active, getting enough sleep, and consuming a nutritious and well-rounded diet are crucial.
Physically active people are less likely to experience cognitive decline than sedentary people. Socialization is crucial, so finding a way for your child to connect with others can make quite a difference in their brain health and mood. Providing new and enriching experiences helps to improve and support neural connections.
It becomes especially crucial to provide these preventative measures for children and adults with a disability or special needs.
Physical Activity and the Brain: What Everyone Should Know
Exercise is crucial for the brain. Not only does it reduce the risk of cognitive decline, but it also improves thought, learning, problem-solving, and emotional well-being. Exercise increases blood flow to the body’s tissues, especially the brain, bringing oxygen and nutrients to critical brain cells. Neuron connections and growth increase, and more endorphins and dopamine enter the bloodstream. These feel-good chemicals help to reduce stress and anxiety.
People who lead a sedentary life are more likely to gain weight, experience cognitive impairments, and face a long list of potential health problems.
Some disabilities make it difficult to engage in traditional types of exercise. That can become problematic if you have a child with multiple diagnoses. However, finding even one or two ways to increase physical activity can help improve your child’s quality of life.
It has been shown that even activity sessions of 10 minutes at a time can significantly impact health. Regular physical activity can help build stronger muscles, strengthen the heart and immune system, reduce stress, improve overall mood, and reduce anxiety and depression.
If you are unfamiliar with Brain Gym®, you may want to research more about it. We have provided some additional links. Brain Gym® aims to help people understand thoughts and feelings and strengthen their ability to manage them more skillfully. Brain Gym exercises for children help to wake the brain cells and stimulate brain functions.
Check with your child’s doctor before incorporating new exercise programs. Physical activity should be fun – not stressful.
Do THIS to make exercise fun for your child. 🏋️
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This post originally appeared on our March/April 2024 Magazine
