Midstate Medical Moment: Keeping Your Brain Healthy Throughout Life

Heather Nissley, Ph.D., neuropsychologist, UPMC Neurological Institute

Our brains are built to solve problems, store and recall memories, pay attention, process language and several other tasks we don’t even think about during daily moments. Just as it’s important to work out the body to maintain proper physical health, it’s important to exercise your mind to maintain optimum brain health through all stages of life.

Q: What can I do to keep my mind sharp as I get older?

Brain exercise comes in many forms. Some activities that are good for the brain include learning a new language, playing a musical instrument, traveling, reading, and solving puzzles like crosswords or Sudoku.

Our brains enjoy variety and challenge, so it’s important to find a balance between novelty and difficulty when selecting tasks to engage your mind. The key is to find activities that aren’t too easy or too difficult that you also enjoy doing.

Q: Does social interaction affect brain health?

Meaningful person-to-person interaction contributes to a healthy mind. We know that during the early weeks and months of the pandemic, reports of memory impairment increased exponentially. While virtual interaction or social media engagement can play a role in building relationships, it doesn’t have the same effect as interpersonal communication. Even though some people like socialization less than others, all brains crave engagement with others.

Q: Does physical health affect brain function?

One of the most important things you can do to keep your mind sharp is to maintain proper heart health, stay physically active, get sufficient sleep and eat a balanced diet. There are some types of memory loss that are associated with nutrient deficiencies, so it’s important to consider your diet when thinking about ways to keep your brain healthy.

Managing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and hypertension can help you maintain optimal brain function.

Q: What are some early warning signs of cognitive decline to look out for?

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are not a normal part of aging. People with active, healthy minds have intact memory well into their 80s and 90s.

People with cognitive decline will often complain that things require more thought and effort than they used to. If forgetfulness is happening on a regular basis, getting in the way

of routine tasks and activities, or if you’re telling the same stories repeatedly, talk with your primary care provider about these memory concerns. They will be able to evaluate you and determine if follow-up specialty care is needed.

Through the Midstate Medical Moment, UPMC wants to raise awareness about the health conditions affecting people living in the communities we serve. For more information about UPMC services in central Pennsylvania, visit UPMC.com/centralpa.