So what exactly is Brain Fitness and why is it the key to total wellness?
I’ll start off with my opinion that Brain Fitness is not just one thing like keeping sharp by doing crossword puzzles. To achieve Brain Fitness, you must incorporate several activities on a regular basis. That’s why I believe implementing a Brain Fitness Plan is the key to overall wellness…because it’s an approach that includes body, mind and individual spirit. If you visit the Alzheimer’s Association you will find that they identify 4 activities that they feel necessary for keeping the brain vital:
* Stay Mentally active
* Remain Socially active
* Stay physically active
* Adopt a brain healthy diet
My family circumstances led me to do a pile of research, from health insurance, social security, medicare, nutrition, diet, exercise, stress management, peak performance just to name a few. The research regarding beneficial activities that someone can do to achieve the best results is consistent throughout, it is basically what is stated above. This Blog was developed to provide access to tools, products, resources, articles, research reports… anything I can come up with that will help someone “Max Their Memory”. To me, this means striving for the best possible brain health and overall wellness one can personally achieve. I have my own variation of the Alzheimer’s list and I have tried to provide actual resources here at Max Your Memory to assist in getting results in each category.
1. Brain Fitness Exercise
2. The Importance of Diet and Nutrition Plan
3. The Role of Physical Fitness
4. Peak Performance, Stress Management and Rest
5. Engaging Community
You may be unfamiliar with “Brain Fitness” currently, however, you will be hearing much more about it in the future. It’s not just the Alzheimer’s statistics but the broad spectrum of issues that are affected by brain health and overall wellness. You don’t need to be just someone who has been stricken with a disease, aneurysm, stroke or traumatic brain injury to be affected. You could simply be tired and sluggish from too much turkey dinner or crashing from too much coffee! You’ll find I like statistics so here are a few:
From the 2010 Alzheimer’s Facts & Figures Report
* 5.3 Million People have Alzheimer’s
* $172 Billion Dollars in annual costs
* 10.9 million unpaid caregivers
* A new case every 70 seconds
* The 7th leading cause of death
* Get the 2010 Alzheimer’s Report here
From the Brain Aneurysm Foundation:
* Approx. 6 million people in the United States have an un-ruptured brain aneurysm, 1 in 50 people
* The annual rate of rupture is approximately 8 per 100,000 people or about 25,000 people
* About 40% of all people who have a ruptured brain aneurysm will die as a result
* 4 out of 7 people who recover from a ruptured brain aneurysm will have disabilities
* Brain aneurysms are most prevalent in people ages 35 – 60 but can occur in children also
* Women, more than men, suffer from brain aneurysms at a ratio of 3:2
* Ruptured brain aneurysms account for 3-5% of all new strokes
Where do most brain aneurysms form?
Approximately 80% of brain aneurysms form in the front (anterior circulation) of the brain, while 20% form in the back (posterior circulation) of the brain. Aneurysms tend to form where the artery divides or branches off.
Does age play a role in getting a brain aneurysm?
Brain aneurysms can occur in people of all ages, but are most common in people, ages 35-60. Aneurysms are usually diagnosed in the third or fourth decade of someone’s life. They are rare in childhood and adolescence.
Are brain aneurysms gender-specific?
Women are actually more likely to get brain aneurysms than men, with a ratio of 3:2.
Get the Stats on Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States
In conclusion, I’d like to emphasize that creating and implementing a Brain Fitness Plan is about Peak Performance as it relates to each individual. Each person has a unique circumstance and you can Max Your Memory in your own way, we hope we can help.
