Maintain your brain health as you get older
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EmailKeep your brain fit for a better life.
As we age, maintaining brain health becomes an essential part of maintaining independence, activity levels and social connections. Brain health involves cognition or how we think and process information. The National Healthy Brain Initiative, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), explain cognition as skills “involved in attention, thinking, understanding, learning, remembering, solving problems and making decisions.” These processes support independence, well-being and quality of life.
Small changes in memory and thinking are a typical part of the aging process. However, changes that make daily tasks harder could be a sign of a more serious problem. This can be due to issues like medication side effects or vitamin B12 deficiency. Always check with your health care provider if you have questions or concerns.
The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that brain health is shaped by many factors throughout the lifespan. WHO found the following factors provide a helpful framework for understanding and supporting healthy aging.
Physical health
The brain and body are connected. Changes in the body can impact the brain, and changes in the body can impact the brain. Key aspects of physical health that shape brain health include:
- Health during pregnancy and early development before babies are born
- Family history
- Nutrition
- Infections
- Diseases and sensory challenges, like hearing loss
- Health behaviors, like sleep quality, physical activity, and substance misuse
- Traumatic injuries
Supporting physical health at every stage of life helps protect the brain and reduces the risk of cognitive decline as we age.
Healthy environments
The environments where people live influence brain health. There are some times, like early childhood, the teen years, and older age, where certain factors can affect the brain more. Key factors include:
- Pollution in the air, water, ground, or food
- Chemicals that can harm the brain like heavy metals or pesticides
- Natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes or heat waves
- Human-made disasters like chemical spills
Safety and security
Physical and financial safety are important for long-term brain health. Physical safety means living without harm or the threat of harm. Financial security means the ability to afford necessities like food, shelter, healthcare, education and transportation. Living with constant stress or worry can harm your health. MI Money Health is a resource that can support financial health.
Learning and social connection
Learning and spending time with others can both help keep the brain healthy. Learning is like exercise for the brain. Early childhood learning often depends on caregivers. Educational experiences with teachers and peers are also important to development. In adulthood, learning continues through work, hobbies and community involvement. Michigan State University Extension offers a variety of lifelong learning opportunities. Social relationships can also develop through these activities. Both learning and social connections support memory, thinking and overall mental well-being.
Access to quality services
Getting good health care can protect your brain. Routine checkups, screenings, treatments for chronic conditions and rehabilitation services can help protect thinking skills. Making sure these services are available and meet individual needs is a key part of supporting brain health across the lifespan.
Brain health is influenced by many factors. Supporting these five key areas may help maintain thinking skills and quality of life. Small steps like staying active, managing chronic conditions, learning new skills and accessing routine healthcare can make a big difference. Taking a class like Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention or Mindfulness for Better SLEEP is a great way to start learning, making social connections and strengthening your brain. These practical steps can help you take care of your brain and improve your overall well-being.
