Aging and Cognition: Tips for Improving Both
Your cognitive health is your ability to remember, learn, and think clearly. It’s a vital part of performing everyday tasks and activities that can be affected by aging, mood disorders, and diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Fortunately, you can maintain your cognitive abilities by implementing different activities in your everyday life.
In Studio City, CA, trusted home care professionals play a vital role in assisting seniors in keeping up with their daily activities, staying connected with others, and maintaining physical and emotional health. Continue reading to find out what activities to follow to improve your cognitive abilities.
What activities improve cognition?
A significant amount of scientific research reveals that the following activities can improve your cognitive health. Making them part your daily routine can bring you numerous benefits:
Eat healthy
While a healthy diet helps reduce the risk of different chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, it also helps keep your brain healthy.
A healthy diet comprises whole grains, fruits and vegetables, poultry, fish, lean meat, and nonfat or low-fat dairy products while it limits the intake of salt, sugar, and solid fats. However, it’s also important to control your portion sizes and take enough water.
Stay physically active
Activities such as regular exercise, household chores, and other physical exercise bring a lot of benefits. They can:
- Improve your balance
- Boost your energy
- Keep and improve your strength
- Prevent diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases
- Improve your mood and decrease depression
According to federal guidelines for physical activity, all adults should get at least 150 minutes of physical activity on a weekly basis. Walking is an excellent exercise, but if you feel like you can do more, there are different senior programs you can take part in.
Keep your mind agile
When you keep your mind intellectually engaged, it improves your thinking abilities. There are a lot of activities you can take up such as playing games, reading books or magazines, taking or teaching chess, learning a new skill or hobby, and volunteering. They can make your brain more adaptable and reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Stay socially engaged
Staying connected with other people keeps your mind active, helps you feel more engaged and less isolated, but also improves your overall wellbeing and lowers the risk of certain health problems.
Studies show that persons who engage in productive and personally meaningful social activities tend to boost their mood, have a sense of purpose, and live longer.
Keep stress levels low
Stress is an inevitable part of our everyday lives. However, it’s possible to manage it and boost your ability to recover from stressful situations by following activities such as:
- Regular physical exercise such as walking or tai chi
- Journal writing to help let go of a problem or perceive a new solution
- Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises or mindfulness
- Staying positive by releasing situations beyond your control or grudges, practicing gratitude, or focusing on enjoying simple things
Where in Studio City, CA can I find dedicated home care?
At A Better Way in Home Care, we boast a team of knowledgeable and reliable caregivers who are devoted to helping your elderly loved ones. They always strive to ensure your family members are well taken care of and receive all the support they need. They’ll assist them in performing their everyday chores, prepare their meals, and accompany them to medical appointments. Whether your senior loved ones live close to the Radford Studio Center or in the vicinity, we’ll make sure they have all they need. Reach out to us today!