Our brain processes eighty thousand thoughts, images and opinions per day at a speed of two hundred seventy five miles per hour using one hundred trillion synapses to make connections! It is the fattest organ in our body and is composed of seventy five percent water, which explains why, when we are dehydrated, it loses the ability to work well. Brain tissue feels no pain, itself, but is responsible for sending pain signals to the rest of our body. These interesting facts were among the many presented at our September 14th Brown Bag gathering by Teri Koenig, our speaker from Intermountain's LiVe Well Center. Her talk was not only educational but also interactive and fun. We learned that, to maximize brain health, it is beneficial to include dark chocolate, walnuts, orange juice, shrimp, legumes (ex. split peas), and asparagus in our diets.
We should NEVER stop leaving our brains open to learning new things because a busy brain is a healthy brain! It has been found that new neural pathways can be created even around brain tissue affected by dementia. Despite aging, continuing to nurture all areas of our lives reaps a double benefit by maintaining both a healthy brain and a healthy heart.
Continue to:
- Engage in Physical Activity
- Seek Mental Stimulation
- Ensure a Proper Diet and Nutrition
- Practice Stress Reduction
- Find Psychological and Emotional Well-being
Because our population is aging, there has been an increase in the number of patients diagnosed with various forms of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Research in the field is being conducted on all fronts and Teri shared some exciting news. Intermountain and the LiVe Well Center will be entering into a partnership with AARP. The goal of the collaboration will be to develop a hospital-wide program to study the various aspects of brain health.