Your brain is the most complex, essential organ in your body, and as you age, it becomes especially important to support it as best you can. Take a look at these six tips for a few ways to help your brain stay as healthy as possible.

For more information on brain health, download our entire booklet.

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Get Active

• People who exercise are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia due to increased blood flow to the brain.
• Engage in 30-60 minutes of exercise a few times each week to keep your body (and brain) in peak condition!
• Activities that use your hands as well as your mind—like drawing or playing an instrument—can also improve brain health.  

Eat to Think

• Diets low in fat and rich in antioxidants can significantly reduce the occurrence of cognitive decline.
• Fish, nuts and a variety of whole grains in your daily meals helps keep your brain happy and healthy.
• Avoid excessive drinking and foods high in sodium foods.

Hit the Hay​

• Sleep is essential for brain health. It plays a vital role in supporting and sustaining optimal brain function.
• Get seven to nine consecutive hours of restful sleep every night.
• Try creating a nighttime routine that will help you prepare for sleep.

Stay Social

• Socially active older adults are less likely to experience cognitive change.
• Connecting with loved ones and friends can help keep loneliness and stress at bay.
• Social interactions can reduce stress and lower blood pressure.

Live and Learn

• Learning new things can strengthen the connection between your brain cells.
• Challenge your mind by doing a puzzle.             
• Play strategic games (like cards) or learn a new language.

Back to the Drawing Board

Architect, dreamer, and perpetual problem-solver, the man once dubbed “Stockton’s Leonardo da Vinci” has been putting his creative mind to good use for nearly a century. And he’s nowhere near packing up his drafting tools and calling it a day.

At 96-years-old, one might think Glen has settled into retirement, enjoying work-free days and wiling away the hours with more recreational pursuits. Not so. One of three founding members of the Save Downtown Stockton Foundation, Glen continues to advocate and push for the city’s leadership to reimagine the possibilities when it comes to moving Stockton’s infrastructure forward.

A resident of the city for over 70 years, it’s no surprise that Glen has seen some significant changes in Stockton, many of which he helped to bring about. Indeed, a glance at Glen’s prolific portfolio gives the impression he’s worked on every major building within a 100-mile radius of Stockton, with schools, banks, libraries, and courthouses across the San Joaquin Valley bearing the mark of his creativity and talent. However, it was working with partner Howard Bissell at the University of the Pacific (UOP) that would seal his identity as a son of Stockton. Read his story here.
 

Listen to “Eskaton Talks Brain Health” with Therese ten Brinke and Catherine Graham.