The Brain Game: How to Keep Your Mind Strong and Healthy Over Time

The average adult brain only weighs about 3 pounds, yet it is one of the most complex and vital organs of the human body. As we age, cognition may decline and our brains become susceptible to diseases such as dementia. With medical advances and other factors contributing to longer lifespans, the prevalence of brain diseases is on the rise. “When people are asked what health conditions they fear the most with aging, dementia tops the list, surpassing even cancer, heart disease and stroke,” said David Tirschwell, MD, MSc, neurologist and volunteer medical expert for the American Stroke Association.

Optimal brain health includes the functional ability to perform all the diverse tasks for which the brain is responsible—including thinking, moving and feeling. As we age, our ability to remember, problem-solve, think and communicate decreases. Many modifiable risk factors for cognitive loss, such as an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle, develop as early as childhood and adolescence. So it’s never too early or too late to start thinking about brain health.

“We now know that many of the same health risk factors that cause heart disease and stroke also contribute to a decline in overall brain health,” said Tirschwell. “However, just like with heart disease and stroke, most brain disease is preventable.” 

Tirschwell recommends following the American Heart Association’s Life Essential 8™, which can be as beneficial for brain health as it is for heart health. Included in Life’s Essential 8 are four healthy behaviors (eating better, being more active, quitting tobacco and ensuring you get healthy sleep) along with four health factors identified as key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health: managing weight, controlling cholesterol, and managing blood sugar and blood pressure.

“I would encourage anyone who is interested in their own brain health to have a discussion with their medical provider. Together you can evaluate your individual risk factors and any recommendations on changes you can make to improve your health.”

To learn more about Life’s Essential 8 visit heart.org/lifes8. Additional information about brain health can be found on stroke.org.

Contributor Valerie Koch is Senior Director of Communications and Marketing at American Heart Association Washington.