We Still Have Our Marbles

Two Healthy Brains - So Far

As you know Dave and I work hard to stay healthy.  But we do normal boring stuff and have for decades.  That means eating right, exercising, blah, blah, blah.

I love the ads for really expensive creams and such that will "reverse aging."  What?  I always think about having to explain to a four year old why "reverse aging" is doable or even a good thing.

The three things about aging that scare us the most are cancer, heart disease and dementia (Alzheimer's decease.)

We've been waiting for a magic bullet for Alzheimer's for a long time but it has not yet appeared.  Now new research out of the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in July suggests that - guess what - the same boring things we do for our physical bodies over the decades may also be what's needed for dementia.

Here are the six changes they're suggesting:

1.  Keep your heart healthy.  Look out for high blood pressure and, cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes.  And how do we do this?  You already know.  (Besides the diet and exercise I eat a piece of dark chocolate and drink a glass of wine every day.  But the trick is not to eat a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine every day.)

2.  Exercise.  Apparently, it keeps your brain as well as your body ship shape. 

3.  Learn new stuff.  Read and write.  It's simple and fun. 

4.  Be social.  Easy to do if you have close friends and relatives but if not, get out there and find some. 

5.  Treat depression.  Hint:  If you are sitting at home in your P.J's watching Fox News all day - stop it. 

6.  Sleep Well.  I have to work hard at this.  

OK, this is what they now tell us to keep our healthy brains.  And - guess what? - it doesn't cost much of anything - and it makes us happy.


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