People often associate symptoms such as forgetfulness, difficulty thinking and “slowness” with the aging process. But that is not what Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who is chairman of the department of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.
According to the neurosurgeon, who is also a specialist in aging, the elderly can be full of health, lucidity and pleasure. However, to live this moment in peace, you will need to invest in some simple habits and follow how to avoid dementia.
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“Sharp Mind”
In addition to being a neurosurgeon, Gupta is also a writer. Recently, his book “Mente Afiada: Develop an active and healthy brain at any age” arrived in Brazil by the publisher Sextante. In the work, the doctor focuses on some small habits that can influence the improvement of the development of the intellect. According to their studies, there are five pillars to keep mental health up to date:
- Move;
- Discover;
- To relax;
- Nourish yourself;
- Connect.
That is, the secret would be in a life with the presence of physical exercises, brain stimulation, good food, rest and good relationships. In addition, the doctor explains that it is not necessary to go deep into these issues, as small changes can already generate important impacts.
Some of the recommended habits are maintaining a routine of conversations with people we like, respecting the time to rest, eating well and taking a light walk. By applying these transformations in their daily lives, a person can have a pleasant old age without major impacts.
Old age doesn't have to be hard
doctor Gupta seeks to break with some of the stereotypes around old age and prevention to avoid dementia. For example, he puts physical exercise as the main factor that stimulates the brain, not crossword puzzles. Although intellectual stimulation is important, only in physical exercise will your body release BDNF, which is a very relevant neurotrophic.
According to the doctor, there is no other way to stimulate the production of this substance than the natural way, through exercise. For this, there is no need to be an enthusiast of sports life, but just to keep the body movement regular. That is, a daily walk, dance classes or a bike ride in the neighborhood helps a lot.