5 Ways to Support Your Brain Health

5 Ways to Support Your Brain Health

Brain health is a growing topic of conversation. But what does it actually mean? And how can you support your brain health? Brain health is more than just the absence of disease. It’s about staying mentally sharp throughout your life and into old age, which may come sooner than you think. The good news is that there are lots of things you can do to support your brain health. After all, research shows that our brain has the ability to change and grow throughout our entire life--even into old age. Here are 5 ways to support your brain health:

Stay physically active
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One of the best ways to support your brain health is to stay physically active. The benefits of exercise for brain health are many. It can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, lift your mood, and support your mental wellbeing. Exercise helps improve blood flow to your brain, which can help it function better. Plus, exercise can encourage new connections between neurons, which can help you stay mentally agile as you age. There are different types of exercise that can support your brain health. Those include aerobic exercise, such as running, swimming, or cycling; strength training; and balance and flexibility exercises.

Eat brain-healthy foods

Foods can play a big role in supporting your brain health. You may be surprised to learn that certain foods are thought to help enhance your brain health or be linked to a reduced risk of certain types of diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. To start, it’s important to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet, as they contain a range of vitamins and minerals that support brain health. Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower, are a particularly good choice. To support your brain health, it’s also a good idea to eat a healthy amount of fish. Fish, particularly oily types, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These are known to support mental health, including mood and memory, and have been linked to a reduced risk of certain types of diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Get enough sleep

As you age, sleep becomes increasingly important for brain health. It’s associated with a decreased risk of cognitive decline as you get older. However, getting too little sleep can actually cause your memory to get worse. To support your brain health, it’s a good idea to get around 8 hours of sleep each night. It’s also important to make sure your sleep environment is conducive to a good night’s rest: One of the best ways to support your brain health is to make sure you get enough sleep every night. Sleep is critical for your brain to recover from the day, repair itself, and recharge for the next day. It’s during sleep that your brain actually produces new cells and makes new connections between neurons.

Learn something new

Learning something new is a great way to stimulate your brain and support your brain health. While it’s generally recommended that you start learning a new skill or hobby when you’re younger, it’s never too late to start. Learning something new can actually help keep your brain young. It encourages your brain to create new neural pathways and can even make existing pathways stronger. There are lots of ways to learn something new. If you’re interested in a new hobby, you could start a new activity, such as painting, gardening, or cooking. Or you could join a club or volunteer with an organization that interests you. Alternatively, if you’re interested in a more academic pursuit, you could enroll in a course, join a reading group, or try online learning.

Help your brain recover and recharge
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• Sleep

Sleep is just one aspect of brain health. Learning how to support your brain health will also help you recover from life’s daily stressors and recharge for the next day.

• Exercise

As we’ve discussed, exercise is a great way to support your brain health. It can help reduce stress, improve sleep, lift your mood, and support your mental wellbeing.

• Diet 

Certain foods are thought to help enhance your brain health, including fruits and vegetables. Eating a healthy amount of fish, particularly oily types, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring, is also a good idea.

• Brain breaks 

Taking regular breaks can help reduce stress and promote creativity.

• Managing your stress 

Learning how to manage your stress can help reduce your risk of developing certain diseases, including Alzheimer’s, and help you feel less stressed out.


Brain health is more than just the absence of disease. It’s about staying mentally sharp throughout your life and into old age, which may come sooner than you think. Luckily, there are lots of things you can do to support your brain health. The good news is that there are lots of things you can do to support your brain health. After all, research shows that our brain has the ability to change and grow throughout our entire life--even into old age. If you want to live a long and healthy life, you'll want to take care of your brain health.