You may have heard of life span and even health span, but did you know you had a brain span? The brain's overall size begins to shrink when you're in your 30s or 40s, and the shrinkage rate increases once you reach age 60.

Your brain health is vital if you want to remain happy and active as you age. This article will explain why brain health is essential and how you can help your most important organ to age gracefully.

What Happens When Your Brain Shrinks?

Brain volume often decreases in people who suffer from brain atrophy, brain shrinkage, and loss of brain cells. This can lead to various adverse side effects, including brain fog, memory loss, and trouble performing everyday tasks. 

Brain atrophy is widespread for older people, as most people lose brain cells as they age. The loss of brain cells leads to the brain volume decreasing, but healthcare providers use the term “brain atrophy” when a person has more brain changes than expected for their age, and the damage happens faster than the typical aging process.

Numerous studies have linked a healthy brain to overall healthy aging. For example, one study uncovered that people whose brains could process information quicker had faster reaction times and lived longer. On the other hand, brain shrinkages will lead to adverse symptoms that hinder you from living an active lifestyle. 

Less Coordination and Motor Function

One negative side effect of brain shrinkage is the decline of coordination and motor skills. Balance, coordination, and mobility issues often start in the brain and can lead to fatal falls and injuries. Researchers have found that improving brain health can improve balance and coordination.

Memory Loss

Other studies have shown that brain atrophy has been linked to Alzheimer's and memory loss in the elderly. Whether it's occasional forgetfulness or loss of short-term memory, the inability to remember important information can be soul-crushing and people that suffer from memory loss are more prone to socially isolate themselves due to their illness.

Unhappiness

Social isolation from memory loss often leads to unhappiness and even depression, which can increase the shrinkage of the brain. A study done by researchers at Yale University showed that stress and depression cause loss of brain volume, a condition that, as we mentioned earlier, contributes to both emotional and cognitive impairment.

What is Cerebral Circulation?

Cerebral circulation is the blood flow in your brain and is an essential factor in healthy brain function. The circulating blood supplies the brain with the necessary oxygen to function, and if circulation is impaired, your brain can become damaged. 

The blood circulation in your body does affect your brain, as a lack of blood circulation can cause your brain to be deficient in oxygen and glucose. This can result in a series of health implications, including: 

• Stroke
• Cerebral hemorrhage
• Cerebral hypoxia
• Cerebral edema

Your brain health is directly linked to your heart health and poor blood circulation and restricted blood flow to your brain can lead to brain cell death and brain injury. 

How to Support Brain Health

Luckily, there are ways to support your brain health and maintain a sharp brain as you age. Below are some tips on how to do it.

Exercise

Physical activity increases blood flow in the entire body, including your brain. Exercise can also reduce stress and depression and improve memory. Studies have also shown that a 30-minute workout per day can improve insulin sensitivity, heart health, and body composition.

Mental Stimulation

For most people, life slows down as we age and we stop being mentally active. The lack of mental activity is a problem, as brain stimulation is just as important as physical activity for the brain to stay sharp. 

Mental activity increases the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the brain. Studies (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17125807/) have shown that mental stimulation slows down mental deterioration in the elderly, and mental exercises can protect against the onset of dementia symptoms. 

Mental stimulation does not have to be complicated. Here are a few methods to stimulate your brain:

• Learn something new
• Play card games
• Read a book
• Listen to music
• Socialize with a friend

Healthy Diet 

Eating well is vital for your overall health, and a healthy diet also benefits your brain. Studies have shown that food rich in vitamins, minerals and Omega-3 fatty acids can help protect your brain, and improve memory, concentration and overall brain health. 

By including various nutritious foods such as leafy greens, salmon, blueberries and walnuts, you can reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's. 

However, some people struggle to follow a healthy diet continuously while juggling work and family responsibilities. Health supplements are a great way to ensure that you get your daily recommended vitamin intake.

Improve Your Gut Health

The gut is known as the “second brain”. Recent studies are showing that your brain affects your gut health and your gut may even affect your brain health. According to a Harvard study, the brain has a direct effect on the stomach and intestines and this connection goes both ways.

A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. Therefore, a person's distressed stomach can be the cause of anxiety, stress, or depression, and vice versa. That's because the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) system are closely connected.  

Supplementing with DIGESTIVE+++ can help improve gut health. DIGESTIVE+++ is a proprietary combination of a probiotic, prebiotic, and digestive enzyme blend created for a healthy gut microbiome.. Studies have shown the spore-based probiotic in DIGESTIVE+++ strengthens the integrity of the lining of the colon.

Probiotics are good bacteria in your gut that help keep detrimental bacteria from proliferating. Using both probiotics and prebiotics together help diversify the good bacteria in your gut, which improves the lining of the digestive tract and colon.

Additional benefits of DIGESTIVE+++:

• Promotes a healthy balance of microflora and pH for better nutrient absorption, a stronger immune system, fewer respiratory infections, and improved mood*

• Improves regularity for reducing toxins in blood, supports less indigestion, bloating, cramping, constipation, and diarrhea*

• Helps digest fats, improve metabolism, and support elimination of accumulated waste*

• Supports weight management and helps reduce fat accumulation*

• Contains a full range of digestive enzymes to break down nutrients for complete digestion and assimilation*

By combining DIGESTIVE+++ with a healthy diet, your overall health can improve, starting in your gut. 

OMEGA+++ Supports Brain Health

OMEGA+++ is another LifePharm supplement that can help improve your overall cardiovascular health. With OMEGA+++ you can improve your brain health and ensure optimal performance by helping your brain get enough oxygen and nutrient-rich blood.

The ingredients in OMEGA+++ are proven to help with brain health, and two capsules daily can result in a series of health benefits. 

• Egg Bioactive Growth Factors help increase telomere length. Studies have shown that longer telomere lengths lead to better cognitive function. 
• Omega-3 helps supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain.
• Vitamin K2 has been shown to lead to better cognitive performance and helps remove plaque from the arteries. 
• CoQ10 - The primary antioxidant in mitochondria, has been shown to help with brain degeneration.