Mindful Aging: Keeping Your Brain Sharp
Did you know? Our brains get much of their power from 100 billion nerve cells, or neurons, that control reading, remembering, deciding, moving and other activities that involve thinking and planning.
Cognitive health, or the ability to think clearly, learn, and remember, is essential to performing everyday activities. It is crucial to keep one’s brain sharp to live fully, especially as one ages.
Brain health is of utmost importance for older adults because it directly affects one’s overall well-being, quality of life, and independence. With age, the brain undergoes changes that can impact cognitive functions, memory, and emotional well-being. Taking steps to improve brain or cognitive function can greatly increase quality of life and significantly impact an individual’s ability to engage in activities.
Tune in for insights about brain health, how it is impacted by age, and tips for supporting it.
Click to listen to this episode:
Get insights and resources from Kinsey McManus, Programs Director for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Desert Southwest Chapter.
About Kinsey:
Kinsey McManus is the Programs Director for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Desert Southwest Chapter. She oversees care and support services for people living with dementia and their loved ones across Arizona and southern Nevada. Over the past 20 years, she has had the privilege to work in a variety of healthcare settings from California to Massachusetts, providing community education, individual and family counseling, healthcare advocacy, and vocational services for adults with disabilities.
Kinsey received her M.A. in Psychology from Boston University and her M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University. She is a passionate advocate for involving families in healthcare and brings her knowledge as a family caregiver, clinician, and researcher to her current work.
Show Notes
- What is meant by brain health
- How can brain health be impacted, especially as one ages (e.g., age-related, injury, dementia, etc.)
- A brief overview of recent Alzheimer’s disease prevention studies and the brain health connection (e.g., heart-head connection, etc.)
- Tips to help keep one’s brain sharp at any age
- Helpful resources for older adults to help maintain and improve brain health
Episode Resources
- 20 Signs Your Loved One May Need More Help
- A Beginner’s Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia – CarePatrol
- Technology Helps Seniors with Memory Issues to Stay Informed and Connected – CarePatrol
- Caregiver Support – Alzheimer’s Association
- Alz.org – Can Alzheimer’s Disease Be Prevented?
- What is Alzheimer’s disease?
- Cognitive Health and Older Adults – National Institute on Aging
- Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures – Alzheimer’s Association