What’s more, there are several ways to help keep your brain healthy. Here are five recommendations from the Alzheimer’s Association:
- Stop smoking. If you have COPD, this isn’t the first time you’ve heard this advice. In addition to improving your lung function and helping you breathe easier, ditching cigarettes also can help you maintain a healthy brain.
- Stay active. Exercise can boost blood flow to your brain, which can help maintain cognitive function. Equally good? It can help minimize COPD flareups, too.
- Eat Mediterranean. Make fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish and heart-healthy fats mainstays of your diet, and limit your consumption of red meat. Research suggests a Mediterranean-style diet may be healthiest for your brain.
- Stay stimulated. Like your body, your brain needs exercise to stay in shape. Do things that keep your brain active, such as reading and writing, completing puzzles and word games and learning new skills or hobbies.
- Keep your numbers in check. Maintaining a healthy weight and keeping your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels within healthy range all play a role in protecting your brain.