Healthy Highlights: by Laura Mancuso, health educator
Brain Boosters
Getting older changes all parts of the body, including the brain. You may notice that you don’t remember
information as well as you once did or you lose things around the house. The good news is that there are techniques that may help you stay healthy and adapt to changes in memory and mental skills.
Here are some ideas:
*Follow a daily schedule
*Use to-do lists, notes and calendars to help plan tasks
*Put items you use frequently in the same place each day
*Spend time with friends and family
*Volunteer in your community, at a school or at your place of worship
*Prevent or control high blood pressure.
*Avoid or limit alcohol
*Get help if you feel depressed for weeks at a time
*Stay physically active
*Remember the old saying, “You are what you eat.” Well, this is one of those times that healthy eating may give you the boost that you need.
Try including these foods in your diet:
Fatty fish such as salmon, trout, albacore tuna, herring and sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Your
brain uses omega-3s to build brain and nerve cells, and these fats are essential for learning and memory.
Coffee: Caffeine and antioxidants can help increase alertness, improve mood and sharpen concentration.
(Just maybe not too close to bedtime.) Blueberries and other deeply colored berries deliver anthocyanins,
a group of plant compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that improve communication
between brain cells. Turmeric is a deep-yellow spice that contains curcumin, shown to benefit memory, ease depression and help new brain cells grow. Nuts contain a host of brainboosting nutrients including vitamin E, healthy fats and plant compounds. Walnuts may have an extra edge with their omega-3 fatty acids. Other foods to stock up for brain health are dark chocolate, oranges, eggs, broccoli, pumpkin
seeds and green tea.
Back in October, at the I.V. Community Development Orgainzation’s Community Connection Expo, I did a presentation on Brain Health and came up with a list of activities that you can do right here in the Illinois
Valley to enhance the brain.
Be present in nature by hiking or meditating in the trees -It’s the climate – gardening or yard work – there is a thriving Garden Club in the I.V.! -Play board games at Sabre & Cannon in downtown Cave Junction
-There are tons of volunteer opportunities – Meals-On-Wheels, Adopt-A-Senior, Library, food pantries, Sheriff’s Substation, Lions Club, and much more!
-Join the I.V. Senior Center for their exercise classes, gym, pool table, card games, Bingo, ect.
-Go to support groups at Journey Home Support Services like “Stich-n-Bitch” or “Elder Tree”
-Attend community events listed in Save the Date in the Illinois Valley News
-Attend local live music events at Taylor’s Country Store, sing along, and dance if you can
-Join the line dancing group called Scrambled Legs and Tangled Toes led by Judy Carpenter.
-Take a class at The Southern Oregon Guild of Artists in Kerby to learn a new craft
These are just a handful of ideas. Surprisingly, there is a lot to do in our small community.
If you are concerned that you have more than mild forgetfulness that comes with aging, here is a list of
symptoms for more serious memory problems:
*Asking the same questions over and over again
*Getting lost in places you used to know well
*Having trouble following recipes or directions
*Becoming more confused about time, people and places
*Not taking care of yourself eating poorly, not bathing or behaving unsafely
If you are worried about your forgetfulness talk with a health care provider. If you think you might forget
an appointment, ask for a family member, friend or the doctor’s office to remind you. It is important to seek medical help about memory problems because certain medical conditions may be causing your forgetfulness such as a head injury, blood clots or tumors, medication side effects, depression or an untreated infection such as an urinary tract infection. Remember, if you are looking for resources to make life a little easier, call Illinois Valley Wellness Resources at 458-592-0012 or email
ivwellnessresources@gmail.com.