Remember the days when you could remember everything? Names, dates, preferences, where you put your keys… they all used to come so easily. You might be saying, “Those were the days,” but the reality is that your mental sharpness isn’t gone – it’s just waiting to be reactivated.
The Super Cool Science of Brain Renewal
Your brain is an incredibly adaptable organ, constantly reshaping itself based on your experiences and habits. This ability to change and grow is called neuroplasticity, and it’s the key to keeping your mind sharp throughout your life.
Every time you learn something new – whether it’s a language, instrument, dance move, or working on improving your balance – you’re creating fresh neural pathways in your brain. These fresh neural connections are like mental muscles, and the more you use them, the stronger they become – no matter how old you are! You indeed are “fearfully and wonderfully made!”
Your brain also has its own built-in maintenance systems to keep things running smoothly.
The key players include:
- Autophagy: This is your brain’s natural cleaning process. It eliminates damaged cells and toxic buildup that can slow down your mental processing, keeping your brain healthy and efficient.
- Synaptic pruning: Over time, your brain eliminates old, inactive neural connections to make space for more relevant ones. This pruning process helps your brain stay adaptable and focused on what matters most.
- Neurogenesis: Your brain continues to create new neurons throughout your life, particularly in areas associated with learning and memory. Engaging in mentally stimulating activities supports this growth process.
And while your brain does all this on its own, there *are* things you can do to help support it.
3 Keys To A Healthy Brain As You Age
To keep your brain in top condition, it needs three essential elements:
- Proper nutrients: Certain compounds like phosphatidylserine and alpha-GPC provide raw materials for healthy brain structure and function.
- Mental stimulation: Challenging your brain with new learning experiences, puzzles, balance training and creative pursuits keeps your neural connections strong and dynamic.
- Restorative practices: Activities like meditation, sleep, and exercise support your brain’s natural maintenance and renewal processes.
But there’s one more crucial factor in brain health that’s often overlooked: your gut.
Believe it or not, your gut and brain are in constant communication via the gut-brain axis. If one is off-kilter, the other likely is too – they’re that connected. An imbalance in your gut microbiome can lead to chronic inflammation, which has been linked to cognitive decline and neurological disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease.
Far too many people have poor gut health, a high toxic load, and nutrient deficiencies – all things that contribute to brain inflammation. In fact, experts predict that the number of people with dementia will nearly triple by 2050, reaching over 152,000,000. Imagine the burden that would be put upon small communities like Danville, IL. or Covington, Ind.
But you don’t have to become a statistic.
By taking proactive steps now to nurture your gut-brain connection, you can protect your cognitive function well into your golden years.
What that looks like is different for each and every individual. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Anyone who tells you that is trying to sell you something. Instead, the more strategic (and therefore effective) path forward is to understand exactly what’s going on in your body, which often starts with a gut test and a balance test which includes balance, motion, and cognitive function.
Once we assess these functions, we can then determine the best course of action to be taken for everyone. Admittedly, the plan to improve your performance is complex, however, it’s doable! Your body has been created to be well! With this information I can construct a personalized plan to boost your mental function, fuel your brain, and fight off the inflammation that leads to cognitive decline. In short, a plan to help you enjoy “the best performance of your life!”
Sound good? If so, just give our office a call so we can develop a plan for you!
God bless,
DrB
