You Destroy Your Brain Health Rapidly With These 10 Stupid Daily Habits

We cannot really overstress the important role of the human brain. It is the control center for our mental and physical processes and enables us to perform our everyday activities effectively. However, as we age, our cognitive health begins to decline, so maintaining a healthy brain throughout life is vital. Several factors contribute to brain health, such as environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors. While we can’t control genetic factors, there are lifestyle changes we can adopt to improve brain health. [1]

Ten Daily Habits that Negatively Affect Brain Health

Brain health refers to how effectively our brains function across several areas. These areas include cognitive health, motor function, emotional function, tactile function, and sensory function. Your brain health can be negatively impacted by changes in the brain related to age. It can also be affected by injuries such as traumatic brain injuries or strokes. Additionally, mood disorders, substance abuse, and dementia can all affect brain health too. Today, however, we will be looking at 10 daily habits you can change today that will help improve your brain health. 

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1: Lack of Adequate Sleep

After grinding away at work all day, many people like to make some time for themselves by staying up late. However, this leads to inadequate sleep, which can negatively impact your brain health. Your brain does not get enough chance to recover if you don’t get a proper night’s rest. This can result in serious issues such as memory loss, mood swings, cognitive decline, and even dementia. [2] Doctors recommend getting a minimum of 7 hours of sleep per evening. 

2: Smoking

Doctors discovered that smokers have a thinner cerebral cortex compared to people who do not smoke. This means that smoking destroys the grey matter of smokers’ brains. This is significant as the cerebral cortex is a part of the brain necessary for mental skills such as learning and memorizing. [3] Smoking also causes damage to blood vessels and chronic inflammation, which can potentially lead to cognitive decline and even strokes. 

3: Not Socializing

Many people enjoy spending time on their own, but socializing is actually important for maintaining brain health. While some people might find being in crowds overstimulating, being a hermit can result in understimulation. This often leads to anxiety, depression, and even possibly dementia. Make sure to put time aside for your family and friends. It is good for your heart, soul, and brain. 

4: A Sedentary Lifestyle

In our modern world, many people’s day consists of driving to work, sitting at a desk all day, and driving home. Many people don’t even leave home and work from their living rooms. While this may be convenient it can also lead to a sedentary lifestyle. Being stationary for hours on end can result in many health issues, such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. These issues lead to brain health issues, such as an increased risk of developing dementia. 

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5: Overeating

While we all like to occasionally indulge in culinary delights, overeating can actually negatively impact your brain health. Studies have shown that overindulging in food is linked to cognitive decline and memory loss in older adults. Overeating was found to affect brain health even if it was a healthy diet. As with many good things in life, moderation is key!

6: Consuming Junk Food Regularly

Everyone knows that junk food is bad for your body, but did you know it’s bad for your brain health too? Studies have shown that the consumption of fries, burgers, and soft drinks was linked to a shrinking of areas of the brain associated with learning and recollection. Junk food is full of calories and sugar, which can result in diabetes and obesity. These issues then in turn lead to brain health issues. 

7: Listening to Loud Music

While listening to music might stimulate the brain, playing it too loud can damage it. Listening to loud music for more than 30 minutes per day (especially with headphones) can lead to permanent hearing loss. Studies have shown that people with hearing loss are more prone to eventually developing Alzheimer’s. One theory suggests that this is because the brain gets overworked trying to hear things, and is unable to process and store the sounds being heard. 

8: Lack of Sunlight

Lack of sunlight can negatively impact brain health by reducing the production of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for regulating your mood, sleep, and appetite. Lack of exposure to sunlight can also lower vitamin D levels, which are crucial for cognitive function and mental well-being. This deficiency is also linked to an increased risk of depression, especially Seasonal Affective Disorder. A lack of sufficient sunlight also disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm, which can lead to bad sleeping patterns. 

9: Being Pessimistic

Constantly being negative can lead to a state of constant stress and anxiety. This eventually leads to issues such as depression and dementia. Research has shown that individuals who are constantly negative have more tau and amyloid deposits in their brains. The presence of these deposits is typically an indicator of Alzheimer’s.  

10: Not Paying Attention to Your Health

Listen to your body! It tells you if something is wrong. If you are developing health issues, see your doctor as soon as you can. Most often, these issues can be dealt with in their early stages. However, if they are left untreated for too long, they can result in more serious issues later on, such as dementia or brain damage. So, the best thing you can do for your brain health is maintain a positive outlook! 

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