The daily habit that will help you protect your brain the most

Take care of the brain It is something that starts from childhood. Different aspects such as education, emotional environment or life habits They influence the way our mind will develop. But if there is one factor that stands out above the rest, it is the physical exercise.

As the neurologist explains David Pérez Martínez to Europa Press Health Infosalusthe origin of dementia remains partly a mystery, making it difficult for specialists to find effective treatments. “It seems that there are elements such as proteins that accumulate in the brain, genetic factors, but we are missing many pieces of the puzzle since it begins. We also believe that dementia can begin 20 or 30 years before the first symptoms. Added to this is that this long evolution, in turn, makes it very difficult to know the origin of neurodegenerative phenomena, and to investigate them.”

Prevention remains key

In recent years, diagnosis has improved thanks to biomarkers that are even detected in the blood, allowing greater precision in these diseases. New drugs have also appeared aimed at specific processes of the Alzheimer’swhich opens a stage with more hopes.

“It was also something probabilistic, with error rates of around 30%; however, in the last 5-10 years a series of molecular biomarkers have been developed that can be detected in blood tests for a diagnosis with a specificity of more than 95%, which allows us to know more exactly what is happening in the brain of these patients.”

However, specialists insist that the most important thing is lead healthy lifestyle habits. It is estimated that up to 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed with appropriate measures throughout life.

The most important habit: moving

Among all the recommendations, which include eating a balanced diet, getting a good rest, and having an active social life, Physical exercise stands out above the rest.

“If I had to choose only one element, although the important thing is to follow a multimodal strategy, it would be to promote physical exercise, and avoid sedentary lifestyle”.

It is not necessary to train intensely, since the important thing is to move more on a daily basis. Daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs or doing household chores already have a protective effect.

“We know that simply increasing the rate of exercise is good for our brain health. Participating in daily activities at home, such as taking out the trash, sweeping and mopping the floor, putting on the washing machine, this already protects.”

Even moderate levels of activity already provide benefits, and these increase as the greater the frequency and intensity.

How does exercise protect our brain?

Physical activity and exercise not only improves our physical fitness, it also acts directly on our brain in various ways:

• It promotes the creation of new neurons, especially in areas related to memory.
• Improves cerebral circulation.
• Increases the brain’s ability to adapt.
• Reduces inflammation associated with cognitive decline.