Baghdad - INA

International experts in psychiatry and neuroscience have confirmed that aging does not necessarily mean a decline in mental abilities. They pointed out that adopting a healthy lifestyle and certain daily habits are effective defenses against dementia and memory loss.

The British newspaper "The Telegraph" quoted several leading specialists in the field, highlighting key scientific recommendations and habits that promote mental health:

• Dietary Supplements and Vitamins: Professor Peter Garrard, a neurologist specializing in dementia at St. George's Hospital, emphasized the importance of controlling cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, as these are direct risk factors for degenerative dementia and heart disease. He recommended taking omega-3 supplements and vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid to reduce homocysteine ​​levels and protect nerve cells.

• Blood pressure monitoring: Garrard called for regular blood pressure measurement (at least twice a week), given its direct and significant impact on the health of the arteries supplying the brain.

• Regular sleep: Professor Barbara Sahakian, a clinical neuropsychologist at Cambridge University, revealed that getting seven hours of sleep per night is ideal for boosting cognition and mental health. She explained that the brain uses sleep to reorganize its activity, clear away toxins, and consolidate memories.

• Continuous learning: Sahakian emphasized that continuously acquiring new skills—such as learning languages, playing musical instruments, or engaging in brain-training games—keeps the brain active and protects it from stagnation and atrophy.

• Resistance training: Professor Ben Paris, a cognitive scientist at Bournemouth University, explained that resistance training stimulates the release of myokines when muscles contract.

• Exposure to daylight: Dr. Faye Begetty, a neurologist at Oxford University Hospitals, recommends spending time outdoors in the morning to take advantage of natural light to regulate the brain's biological clock, which enhances daytime alertness and improves nighttime sleep quality.

• Preventive vaccinations: Dr. Justin Sawyer, a consultant in psychiatry and memory disorders, indicated that receiving the shingles vaccine may reduce the risk of developing dementia by 17 to 25 percent, as it limits inflammation that can affect the brain. He emphasized that research is ongoing to fully understand this relationship.