"Scientists estimate that there are more neurons in the brain than there are stars in the milky way galaxy".
World Brain Day (WBD) was proposed by the Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) in September 2013. 22nd July 2014 was officially celebrated as the 1st “World Brain Day” and it is now an annual activity. The main objective of this day is to increase public awareness and promote advocacy related to brain health. Though there are other days to commemorate other neurological diseases and disorders, this day essentially about the brain. This year, the WFN partners with the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society to raise awareness for Parkinson’s disease with the 2019 event focused on Migraine.
Parkinson’s is a chronic, neurodegenerative whole-body disease that affects movement and almost all aspects of brain function. Its prevalence continues to rise at an alarming rate, making the actions of this day vital to improving the lives of those who have been and will be diagnosed. It is estimated that there are over 7 million people of all age groups with Parkinson’s disease worldwide, and it affects many more than this number through its impact on families and caregivers.
Parkinson is just one of over 400 neurological disorders that affect the central and peripheral nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves, nerve roots, autonomic nervous system, neuromuscular junction, and muscles). These disorders range from epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and other dementias, cerebrovascular diseases including stroke, migraine, and other headache disorders, multiple sclerosis, neuroinfections, brain tumors, traumatic disorders of the nervous system due to head trauma, and neurological disorders as a result of malnutrition.
There are hundreds of millions of people worldwide affected by neurological disorders. Over 6 million people die because of stroke each year with 80% of these deaths in low- and middle-income countries. More than 50 million people have epilepsy worldwide. It is estimated that there are globally 47.5 million people with dementia with 7.7 million new cases every year - Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases.
All in all, how do we then care for this organ regarded as the most complex machine in the universe? No one knows exactly how complex the brain is, but it is estimated by scientists that there are more neurons in the brain than there are stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. Thus, there are tens of billions of neurons in the brain alone.
To keep the brain at full function; a healthy and active lifestyle is highly recommended as this goes a long way toward keeping blood flowing. A Swedish study of more than 30,000 women found that those who ate a healthy diet, exercise regularly, didn't smoke, drank only moderately, and kept their body mass index (BMI) below 25 had a far lower risk of stroke than women who didn't meet any of those five goals.
Healthy Diet: Individuals that consume a diet that consist of more fruits, vegetable, fiber, healthy fats, carbohydrate, plant sources of proteins are less likely to develop cognitive impairment and dementia.
Regular Exercise: Physical activity is perhaps the single most important thing you can do to keep your brain healthy. Exercise boosts blood flow and other positive nutrients to the brain, increases dopamine levels and generates new brain cells that can help the brain self-regulate and calm down. Walking also helps to clear the mind, decrease anxious feelings, improve mood, and burn calories all at the same time.
Drink Water: The brain is 80% water, so it is important to avoid anything that dehydrates it – such as caffeine or alcohol. Being dehydrated by just 2% impairs performance in tasks that require attention, immediate memory skills, and physical performance.
Quality Sleep: Getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night helps the brain function at optimal levels. Lack of sleep leads to decreased blood flow to the brain, which disrupts thinking, memory, and concentration.
Occasionally, it is important to just relax as we need to recharge our batteries and self-care is key to physical and mental health. Learning how to counteract stress and calm the body by engaging in leisure activities like video games, crossword puzzles and other forms of mental exercise helps the brain work better, improves mood, reduces blood pressure, and protects you from disease.
The role of a healthy brain can’t be overemphasized in maintaining a healthy lifestyle!!!
0 Comments