Healthy habits may help protect your memory and lower your risk of dementia.

A healthy body supports a healthy brain. Keep your blood vessels healthy by managing blood pressure, blood sugar, and bad cholesterol. Ensure that you are breathing well, especially at night, by taking care of conditions such as sleep apnea. Regular physical exercise increases blood flow to the brain, bringing oxygen and nutrients where they are needed. Get plenty of good sleep and make sure you are eating a healthy diet.

Use it or lose it applies to the brain. First, information needs to get to the brain, so make sure that your hearing and vision are working optimally (e.g., wear hearing aids, have cataracts operated). Next, keep your brain active by learning new skills (e.g., language, musical instrument) and activating different parts of your brain: language (e.g., word games), thinking (e.g., Sudoku), and visuo-spatial abilities (e.g., jigsaw puzzle).

Get out and socialize with people as much as possible. Volunteer and participate in group activities and clubs. This will also help keep your spirits up, another factor for brain wellbeing.

Finally, protect your brain from damage. Wear a helmet when participating in contact sports and riding a bicycle. Avoid falls. Do not expose your brain to toxins like alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and “street” drugs. Review all of your prescriptions and over-the-counter medications with your health practitioner for negative effects on the brain.