These weekly newsletters generally center around all things investment. We try to keep you apprised of market developments, economic changes, and portfolio reactions. We attempt to boil down investment complexities and peculiarities into digestible two-minute reads. On occasion, we touch on topics beyond your financial health. This week is one of those weeks. For younger folks, it’s best not to discount this week’s article, as younger people have the most at stake.
Today’s rush-rush life and short snippet TikTok videos have had a meaningful impact on our ability to focus. Even long length podcasts have been cut down to 5-10 minute clips. Don’t worry; pharmaceutical companies are ready to manufacture compounds to address attention deficits and control impulsivity. Slowing down in today’s world is a sincere reality, even for retirees. An argument can be made that our current day mental programming could evolutionarily affect future generations.
Most brain health research revolves around the brain’s mental acuity, or the ability to remain mentally sharp. Solutions center around brain activities to improve memory, focus, and reasoning. Brain exercises may consist of Sudoku, crossword puzzles, math games, or social mental activities such as a friendly game of poker, bridge, or mahjong. These activities concentrate on improving the brain’s software or the intangible aspects of the brain. Much of the brain game advertisements ignore brain physiology or the tangible hardware. I guess the general assumption is as long as the software is working, the hardware must be okay.
A recently attended seminar by Dr. Marc Milstein highlighted the importance of both. Dr. Milstein has recently written a book, The Age-Proof Brain, that presents the importance of both. The brain is like a computer, where both hardware and software are needed for the computer to work properly. If a circuit board malfunctions, the software can’t compute.
Some of Dr. Milstein’s recommendations can be expected.
- Get plenty of sleep (preferably +8 hours),
- Eat brain-healthy foods (leafy vegetables, nuts, berries, whole grains, fish/poultry, olive oil),
- Stay away from processed foods and preservatives, and minimize refined sugar (think pastries, deserts).
Some surprising findings can be summarized as heart health is also brain health.
- Diabetes is a huge risk factor; keep it at bay.
- Consistent regular exercise not only helps your heart, muscles, and organs; it also helps the brain,
- Hearing is important for physiological development as sound challenges the brain.
- The best activity for brain health was… Dancing. Dancing combines rhythmic movement requiring listening and moving to a musical cadence with social interaction.
a. The next best is participating in sport. Pickleball, here I come.
The seminar was extremely informative and full of useful lifestyle improvements. The book is chock full of information beneficial to all readers, young and old. Here’s to a happier, healthier life.
No direct or indirect compensation or referral fee is offered nor garnered by Dr. Milstein or the publisher. There is no affiliation with Dr. Milstein nor the publisher. CRN-6590843-043024
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