Brain Health at Every Age

Focusing on total brain health at all stages of life is imperative to prevent behavioral, cognitive, physical, and mental disorders. Schneck Neurology will walk you through how the brain changes with age and the best cognitive health tips. As a brain health center, we'll guide you toward a lifestyle that benefits the brain, including taking the best brain health vitamins, fats and oils.

How the brain changes with age

The brain is the control center of the body, and it adapts and changes throughout life. It is constantly working - intaking, storing information, delegating, and helping you make decisions. Cognitively, it's responsible for things like learning, memory, and thoughts. Functionally, it handles communication with the rest of the body as well as movement, seeing, breathing, creating emotional responses, and more. 

Pay attention to your and your family's brain health by age, as each stage helps a person change and continue operating. It is in the early stages of life that you're learning the most, creating neural pathways that help you function effectively as an adult. In older stages, you may lose some of your ability to learn and think quickly, but your reasoning and decision-making improve.

The brain in childhood

Starting in the womb and continuing until the child is five years old, the brain develops rapidly. The brain reaches almost 90% of its full size by the time a child reaches six years old. The phase is crucial for setting the child up for success in their future. Senses are being developed, connections are being made, and the child is building year by year toward higher cognitive function. Language, social skills, and emotional depth are being pruned, giving the child the important building blocks for success in the adult world.

On the other hand, if a child grows up in a home with consistent stress, abuse, or a toxic atmosphere, that can significantly damage these neural pathways, leading to behavioral or mental health problems as an adult, like addiction or depression. This level of trauma can also put the child at risk for physical health problems as an adult, such as heart disease or obesity. However, not all stress is detrimental. Moderate stress, such as a fight with a sibling or a scuffed knee after falling off the bike, is helpful for a child's brain development as it helps them build resilience. 

The brain in teenage and young adult years

The brain of a teenager and young adult (those younger than 25) has its own unique functions. The brain is not yet fully developed at this stage of life, so most decision-making is made from the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for understanding fear and anxiety primarily. The frontal cortex, which often offsets the initial reaction the amygdala creates by helping an individual think with more reasoning, doesn't develop fully until at least 25 years of age. Because of this, teens and young adults often exhibit more emotional and, at times, impulsive responses. However, during this time of life, the brain is developing myelin, which is a part that helps that cells communicate. So pushing the limits and gauging others' responses to their actions is an important part of a young adult's development, as it teaches them reasoning, responsibility, and abstract thought. 

The brain as you age

When you reach your 30s, your brain starts to decrease in size. This shrinkage contributes to difficulties with remembering details, multitasking, and learning new concepts quickly.

As you age, your brain starts to produce amyloid-beta - cells that cluster together and break down the connectors between nerve cells. This can lead to memory  loss and related illnesses like Alzheimer's disease. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent age-related diseases and prioritize memory health, which we will break down later.

While there are some hurdles you may experience as you age, you can still learn and remember new things as well as increase your vocabulary. Since you have more life experiences than a younger individual, you may have more knowledge and improved problem-solving skills, too. It largely depends on your habits throughout life and how well you take care of your brain.

Brain-based health solutions

One of the best ways to support long-term success throughout your life is to incorporate brain health supplements and/or vitamins. Below is a list of the best vitamins, fats, and oil for brain health:

• B Vitamins: Specifically, B6, B9, and B12, these vitamins are great for improving memory health and preventing decline. You can take these vitamins as a supplement, or you can focus on eating vitamin B-rich foods. Meat, fish, dairy products, and leafy green vegetables are loaded with vitamin B and are essential for maintaining brain health.
• Vitamin D: Brain health and vitamin D go hand-in-hand. If you have a diet rich in vitamin D or take supplements, you're decreasing your risk of developing age-related condictions like dementia. It protects your nerves and cells, preventing cognitive decline. Vitamin D can be found in fish and dairy, and plant-based alternatives like almond milk.
• Omega-3s: Otherwise known as fish oil, these fatty acids protect brain cells. Omega-3s help the brain build cell membranes that prevent inflammation. They also create antioxidants that prevent cognitive decline. While you can take them as a supplement, it's most effective to receive Omega-3s from food such as salmon, vegetable oils, and nuts. The nuts that are best for brain health are walnuts and flaxseeds.
• Fats: Healthy fats help your brain cells communicate effectively. Phosphatidylserine supplements are good fats for brain health as they help you sleep, remember, manage emotions, and promote cognitive function, reducing your risk of Alzheimer's. You can find these fats in foods like eggs, soybeans, and organ meats such as tongue or liver.

These vitamins, fats, and oils are good for memory and brain health, providing sharper mental focus and productivity. Feeding your brain the proper nutrients for development while negating the toxins that negatively affect it will be essential for long-term health. 

Additionally, there are other lifestyle choices you can implement to maintain brain health. Here are some more cognitive health tips:

• Challenge your brain: Whether that's doing a puzzle, playing an instrument, or reading, keeping your mind sharp will help it stay functional longer.
• Maintain heart health: Regularly check vitals like blood pressure and cholesterol, as healthy arteries and veins mean the heart can effectively communicate with the brain. The heart supplies the brain with the nutrients and oxygen it needs for strong cognitive function.
• Exercise consistently: Working out and staying physically active increases blood flow to the brain, mitigating the risk of age-related illnesses.
• Prioritize sleep: 7-8 hours of sleep/night helps you store memories and contributes to brain health.
• Keep up with your socila life: Spending time with friends can significantly reduce stress, thereby preventing memory loss.

Research shows that prioritizing brain health and cognitive development by age is essential for a long, healthy life. Taking care of your brain and keeping it challenged is especially important for cognitive strength in the golden years.