What is Bright Minds?
Bright Minds is a collection of Brightview community offerings that are designed to improve the overall brain health and cognitive function of our residents. With Bright Minds, we focus on creating and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits – from increased exercise, social interaction, and healthy eating to managing chronic health conditions to keep you active, and your brain healthy.
What are some fun facts about the brain?
Each human brain has more connections between brain cells (neurons) than there are stars in the Milky Way. As you use your brain, your neurons fire, communicate with each other, and form stronger lasting connections. Activate your neurons, take care of your brain, and you can sharpen your mind!
How can people improve their brain health?
Healthy lifestyle habits that can strengthen overall brain health and function, make us feel better, think clearer, and stay that way are a combination of four categories:
- Exercise
- Nutrition
- Social & Mental Engagement
- Medical Health
Social & Mental Engagement
Does social interaction really matter?
Yes! Connections with others build connections in the brain. Regular socialization provides opportunities to converse, debate, learn, laugh, and destress. Purposeful, feel-good engagement is also a powerful tonic. It’s a little-known fact that one of the strongest therapies for the brain is volunteering!
Why is mental exercise important for brain health?
Mental fitness can increase brain cell growth and connections between cells. Pursue challenging and rewarding activities – art projects, continued education, and chess, for example. Push yourself to try a harder level or compete against a formidable challenger, learn novel skills like a new language, or pick up a new musical instrument.
Exercise
What's the connection between exercise and brain health?
Scientific literature says what’s good for your heart is good for your brain. Exercise increases blood flow and oxygenation, which carries fuel to the brain to improve mood, mental sharpness, and sleep quality, as well as help us lose weight and manage chronic health conditions like hypertension.
Nutrition
Which foods promote brain health?
Fresh, nutrient-rich diets that contain antioxidants, spices, leafy greens, omega-3 fatty acids, whole grains, and lean proteins provide excellent fuel for your brain. Three diets proven to boost brain health are Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND. And good news for many is that research now supports moderate intake of dark chocolate, alcohol, and caffeine.
Medical Health
Are certain medical conditions linked to decreased brain health?
Without proper management, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol significantly decrease cognitive function and brain health. Managing and controlling these chronic health conditions by staying on track with prescribed medications and adhering to medical recommendations can provide a greater quality of life and increased brain health.
What risk factors can I control?
Quit smoking, treat depression, reduce stress and anxiety, treat hearing loss, and improve your sleep habits. By seeking treatment, making lifestyle changes, and taking preventative measures now, you can experience extraordinary effects on brain health later! For example, untreated age-related hearing loss negatively affects brain health but people who use hearing aids can reduce their risk of dementia by 55%!
Does it Matter what age I start adopting these four healthy practices?
To maximize the benefits, it is best to start early! People who adhere to a healthy diet, exercise regularly, learn continuously, and remain socially active throughout their lives will be in the lowest risk category. However, it is never too late to reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and improve your brain function and brain health.
