How Exercise, Diet, Sleep, and Hearing Affect Brain Aging

How Exercise, Diet, Sleep, and Hearing Affect Brain Aging

In Brain Health, Hearing Health by Dr. Jason Leyendecker

Dr. Jason Leyendecker
Latest posts by Dr. Jason Leyendecker (see all)

According to the most recent scientific findings, our bodies and minds are closely intertwined. More importantly, modern medicine now assesses a person’s whole health. That is to say, none of our systems function in isolation, and hearing health is no exception.

The basic building blocks of physical health, such as exercise, food, sleep, and even hearing, all feed upon one another to form a healthy brain, just as hearing loss can significantly impact our emotional and mental health. 

Scientists are now discovering that these critical aspects of health have a role in maintaining neuroplasticity, or our brains’ ability to create new neural pathways and, as a result, new behaviors, abilities, and thoughts.

How to keep your brain sharp

We’ve known for a long time how important exercise, diet, and sleep are to our physical systems. Having a balanced and regular practice of those three elements will help us avoid the negative consequences of aging and reduce our chances of developing dementia. But the most current research, which includes healthy hearing as part of that magical combination, is quite astounding.

Our minds continue to slow down as we become older. The majority of our mental capability is retained naturally, but the brain’s agility begins to deteriorate. We might not feel as “alert” as we used to. This affects not only cognitive but also motor and sensory functions. 

One method to stop the deterioration is to watch those four primary components.

Exercise 

Exercise is essential for brain health. In one research of persons aged 65 and older, those who exercised three or more times per week had a 32 percent lower risk of dementia than those who exercised less frequently.

On another level, physical activity helps maintain the mind-body link, which is essential for general health. It also helps keep blood pressure in check and decreases stress on our nervous systems.

A healthy diet

Nowadays, eating a healthy diet can imply a variety of things. Some people avoid dairy, some are vegetarians, and many others believe in the benefits of veganism. Some of your buddies are low-carb, while others don’t consume any grains at all, and still, others are low-protein, high-fat. There are ten more prescribed eating methods that someone believes are a miracle diet for each option provided.

The truth is that everyone’s body is unique, as are their lifestyles. What works for one person may not work for someone else. Instead, consult your doctor friends, and conduct some basic internet research. You’ll find an eating plan that appeals to you – the greatest one is the one you’ll stick to, so try something new and see how it makes you feel. It’s preferable if it’s as colorful as possible! What matters is that your diet includes entire, unprocessed meals as well as a variety of vegetables.

Plenty of sleep

Sleep is crucial for maintaining brain function, which is why it’s so tragic that sleep disorders disproportionately affect the elderly. Insomnia affects about half of the elderly population, while disturbed breathing affects another half. All of these factors lead to insufficient and restless sleep.

Consult your doctor about your sleep apnea. You might also attempt light meditation before bed, which effectively prolongs sleep length and assists practitioners in achieving more profound and more peaceful sleep in general.

Maintain good hearing health

Hearing health is a vital, albeit unexpected, component of brain health. Hearing loss, which affects a large percentage of the over 65 population, is frequently linked to brain shrinkage and neurodegeneration. Those with a mild hearing impairment are twice as likely to develop dementia than those who do not. Hearing loss can increase the risk of dementia by 3 to 5 times in people with moderate to severe hearing loss.

Those are alarming numbers, to be sure. But there is a way out. Hearing loss treatment may result in brain reorganization and cognitive enhancement. Make an appointment with us to have your hearing tested today. We’ll be able to decode your specific hearing loss pattern and match you with the best hearing aid for your needs.