9 Lesser-Known Brain Health Habits

It's almost always better to stop trouble before it starts. This is especially true where your brain health is concerned.

Every great book starts with a single word. A journey of a 1,000 miles begins with the first step. And, often brain health problems could have been prevented, if the first step had been taken. Most problems don't appear "out of the blue", and preventing them comes from small daily habits.

Prevention is the best cure. Stated differently, it's better to solve problems upstream, not downstream.

"There’s a public-health parable that captures the distinction: You and a friend are having a picnic by the side of a river. Suddenly you hear a shout from the direction of the water — a child is drowning. Without thinking, you both dive in, grab the child, and swim to shore. Before you can recover, you hear another child cry for help. You and your friend jump back in the river to rescue her as well. Then another struggling child drifts into sight... and another... and another. The two of you can barely keep up. Suddenly, you see your friend wading out of the water, seeming to leave you alone. “Where are you going?” you demand. Your friend answers, “I’m going upstream to tackle the guy who’s throwing all these kids in the water.” ~ Dan Heath

Here are 9 lesser-known brain health habits, often going unnoticed compared to more common advice like diet and exercise, that can make a real difference for you:

9 Lesser-Known Brain Health Habits

1. Use earplugs during exposure to loud noises, such as mowing the lawn. Experts recommend this to protect your brain's ability to process sensory signals, as hearing loss is linked to a higher risk of dementia, potentially due to reduced brain stimulation, or social withdrawal.

2. Switch hands for some daily tasks. This improves your cognitive flexibility.

3. Change routines to challenge your brain, and improve adaptability.

4. Floss daily. Good oral hygiene prevents gum disease and chronic infections which may allow bacteria and inflammatory mediators to enter your bloodstream and reach your brain, increasing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Maintaining good oral health through regular flossing, and dental visits is a simple yet powerful preventive measure.

5. Cold showers to boost focus and mood.

6. Use scents to activate your memory center and improve recall. Certain scents, such as lavender, rosemary, and peppermint, have been linked to improved memory and recall.

7. Look after your neck health. Avoid i-hunch as this can restrict blood flow to your brain.

8. Sauna sessions lower your dementia risk.

9. Write by hand sometimes. This strengthens learning. Reading out loud does the same.

Remember, the best time to fix the roof of your home is when the sun is shining. And, the best time to look after your brain is when it's healthy.

This article was first published in Terry Small's Brain Bulletin newsletter.