We don’t always think about brain health as much as caring for the other parts of our bodies like the heart, gut or even skin. However, to live a high-quality, long life, taking good care of the brain is critical, and can be planned for, rather than left to chance.

The brain is the body’s command center, controlling all bodily functions, processing information and maintaining cognitive abilities. Protecting and enhancing brain health are essential for maintaining optimal memory function and reducing the risk of neurodegenerative disease.

Stimulating the brain by reading, learning new skills, solving puzzles or participating in mentally challenging tasks can help preserve cognitive function and promote neuroplasticity. Regular physical exercise has also been linked to improved brain health because it enhances blood flow to the brain and promotes the growth of new neurons. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet rich in nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins provides essential nourishment for brain health and protects against oxidative stress and inflammation. Foods that cause inflammation and damage brains are sugar, gluten and dairy.

Lack of proper brain care can also be problematic for mental health. A nine-year study published by Yujie Zhao and colleagues in Nature Mental Health showed people that neglect their brain health are at a higher risk of developing depression because the brain is responsible for regulating emotions, thus poor brain health can disrupt these processes. A brain in decline from neglect can make nearly everything in life more difficult.

Another form of brain neglect is poor sleep. Neuroscientist Matthew Walker, Ph.D., is a world-renowned expert on sleep and the author of Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. He says, “Sleep is not a disposable luxury, it’s a non-negotiable biological necessity.”

During sleep, the brain organizes memories and things learned. Getting eight hours of this restorative process is necessary to maintain good brain heath. Recent findings show that sleep also plays a housekeeping role by removing toxins in the brain that build up while we are awake. It is never too late to be intentional about how we live the latter half of life. However, the sooner the brain gets attention and care, the better the chances of a quality outcome.

Kris Tschetter is the owner of Cereset Vienna, located at 404 Pine St. SE, Ste. 206, in Vienna. For more information, call 703-517-7776 or visit KrisTschetter.com.