In this section  Body: Introduction  Body: Exercise  Body: Stress reduction and sleep  Body: Nutrition  Body: Critical health indicators  Body: Help in setting your goals  Print the Healthy Brain worksheet  Back to main Healthy Brain page

It is hard to concentrate and remember things in a crisis. Similarly, chronic stress will have a long-term impact on the performance of our brain - especially our memory.

Chemicals released into the body and brain as a result of stress are very damaging if we are exposed to them for too long.

These chemicals include cortisol (a hormone), epinephrine and norepinephrine (both neurotransmitters), which weaken the immune system and make us more vulnerable to bacterial or viral infections, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and cancer. Cortisol is a particular enemy of brain health and fitness because it attacks the brain cells in the hippocampus - a part of the brain involved in creating memories

A Canadian study found that people deprived of a few hours of sleep remembered 30% less in logic games than the well-rested group. As we age, we tend to sleep less - not because we need less, but because we can become less efficient sleepers and may find it harder to sleep without interruption.

Sleep deprivation impacts our mental fitness. Losing four hours of sleep on one night can slow your mental processes by half, and make it difficult to concentrate on even a simple task.

You should avoid "sleep debt" - the accumulation of sleep lost over many nights.

<< Previous Page | Next Page >>