Brain health: Why a Mayo Clinic-trained neurologist wants yo ..

The world might be riding the high-speed train of technological advancement, but in the rush to become digital darlings, we could be forgetting the truly important stuff. Dementia isn’t just a far-off worry for old age anymore, it could be knocking sooner than we think. As people live longer and the population ages, dementia cases are swelling fast. Alzheimer’s may be the headline act, but it’s hardly a solo show. Memory, thinking, even basic daily life can crumble when we hand over all our brainwork to gadgets. And here’s the cruel twist—there’s no cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s. Which means keeping our brains sharp isn’t just smart, it’s a full-blown survival strategy.

A Mayo Clinic trained neurologist shared three surprisingly simple habits that protect brain health. First, unplug your GPS sometimes. Turns out using GPS all the time makes your spatial memory lazy. Studies show the hippocampus, the brain region that maps and remembers places, is less active when we follow turn by turn directions. London taxi drivers who learn routes by heart actually show bigger hippocampi. So get adventurous. Try finding your way without the app once in a while.

Second, cut back on energy drinks. Those neon cans load you with caffeine and sugar which stress the heart blood vessels and brain chemistry. Over time that wear and tear can nudge cognitive decline.

Third, sleep in darkness. Light at night lowers melatonin and wrecks sleep quality. Poor sleep means less brain repair and weaker memory.

None of these habits causes dementia on their own. But they do matter. Give your brain simple exercises, better sleep and fewer stimulant bombs and you will be doing it a favour for years to come.
**This news was published on Times of India on 12th August, 2025.

 

 

 

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