News India Live, Digital Desk: Today is ‘World Health Day’, and this year’s theme is giving us the message to be aware of the most important organ of our body i.e. ‘Brain’. In this busy life and digital era, we pay attention to our physical appearance but ignore our mental health. Recent medical reports and neurologists have made a shocking revelation that some of our common everyday habits are ‘shrinking’ our brain. Premature reduction in brain size is an invitation for serious diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Let us know from the doctor what are those habits which are damaging your ‘super computer’.

What is ‘Brain Shrinkage’ and why is it dangerous?

Shrinking of the brain is a process in which brain cells (neurons) start dying and the connections between them start breaking. Although this process is natural with increasing age, today cases of ‘Early Brain Shrinkage’ are being seen even in youth of 30 to 40 years of age. Due to this, symptoms like weakening of memory, difficulty in taking decisions and irritability start appearing.

5 ‘dangerous’ habits that shrink the brain

According to doctors, if you don’t make these changes in your lifestyle, your brain may age prematurely:

Sleep Deprivation: When you don’t get 7-8 hours of deep sleep, the brain is unable to ‘reboot’ itself. Due to lack of sleep, toxic proteins start accumulating in the brain which destroy the cells.

Excessive Sugar Intake: Eating too much sweets increases inflammation not only in the body but also in the brain. It affects the part of the brain that is responsible for learning and remembering new things.

Loneliness and social isolation: Man is a social animal. People who are less social with others or live alone, their brain activity starts decreasing, due to which the ‘Grey Matter’ reduces.

Lack of physical activity: Lack of exercise reduces the flow of oxygen and blood to the brain. Walking or doing yoga helps in maintaining ‘neuroplasticity’ of the brain.

Constant stress and multitasking: Doing many things simultaneously and being under stress all the time increases the hormone ‘cortisol’, which directly shrinks the hippocampus (memory center of the brain).

Doctor’s advice: How to keep the brain ‘young’ and sharp?

On World Health Day, neurologists have given some easy tips to increase brain function:

Adopt ‘brain food’: Include omega-3 fatty acids (walnuts, flaxseed), green leafy vegetables and berries in your diet.

Learn New Skills: Playing a new instrument, learning a new language or solving puzzles is a great exercise for the brain.

Digital Detox: Stay away from mobile phones and screens for at least one hour a day.

Meditation: Meditating for 10-15 minutes daily helps in reducing stress and preserving the shape of the brain.