Staying Sharp

Mental health is something most of us take for granted until we start to lose it.  When I refer to mental in this instance, I am specifically referring to our ability to think, reason and remember.  Just as we need our muscles to move our bodies, we rely on the brain to direct all of our activities.  Our ability to do so profoundly affects our physical health.  I have a patient who is 106 years old.  She has experienced many years of good health but she is now blind and can hear very little.  She mostly mumbles to herself and her mind is no longer functioning well.  Though she has been healthy enough to reach such an advanced age most would agree that we would not want to be in such a condition.  I have another patient in her nineties who stays active and continues to teach a dance class.  Her mind is active and quick.  One would even say, "sharp as a tack."  If we are going to live a long life, we want to maximize our chances of staying "sharp."  Though there are no guaranties that we will not experience dementia or other problems, let me share some ideas on how we can maintain our mental acuity.

First, keep your mind free from mind altering substances.  Drugs such as alcohol and marijuana will dull our senses.  One of the biggest brain depressants are sedative sleeping pills.  One would think that getting a "good night sleep" will help you be more alert and less tired the next day.  However, studies have consistently shown that patients given sleeping pills function more poorly.  They perform less well while driving and doing tasks requiring concentration.  Antidepressants need to be used with caution as well.  Although depression itself can cause symptoms identical to dementia, the medications used to treat it can cause one to be less than sharp.  It is appropriate once an initial response is achieved to then decrease the dose if maintenance is required.

Stimulants trade short term mental activation for longer term lethargy.  Most who grab something with caffeine to "wake up" don't think of the longer term consequences.  Habitual caffeine use can result in more persistent, longer term fatigue and "brain fog."  Methamphetamine abuse is soaring.  Anyone who has known an addict will not confuse their mental sharpness with that of a sharp instrument.  I have the same concern for prescription stimulants used to treat ADD.  When they are absolutely necessary, the lowest possible dose should be used for the shortest period of time.  We really don't know the long term ramifications of regular use for more than just a few years.

One of the biggest determinants of brain health in later years is maintaining blood flow to the brain.  Just as decreased blood flow to the heart or the kidneys can cause disease, the same is true for the brain.  This goes right back to our physical health.  You want to be exercising, eating right and maintaining normal blood pressure and cholesterol values.  This has been discussed in more detail in my previous posts.

Just as regular exercise keeps our muscles strong and active, regular brain activity keeps the brain connections working as well.  It has been shown that those who do so have a seven fold decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's.  This beneficial effect is for greater than any medication or supplement.  Too many of us let others do our thinking for us.  We spend too much time in front of television screens and not enough time reading, writing, speaking a foreign language, playing a musical instrument or doing puzzles and games.

Someone with a sharp, active brain is more likely to take an active interest in their health.  They will study and learn about any conditions they have and may actually read this blog!  Let us all do what we can to hone our brain.  Let's keep our brains clear, let's stay active, let's stay sharp.