Brain health for healthy ageing

A group of older people playing jenga, a great activity for brain health

Promoting brain health for healthy ageing

Keeping your brain healthy can be quite the puzzle!

Pieces like healthy eating, staying physically active, and keeping your mind engaged all play a big role in cognitive wellbeing.

This Brain Awareness Week (16 –  22 March), let’s explore how these elements work together to support your brain power over time.

Brain power

We all know that it’s important to exercise and eat well to keep our bodies active and healthy. But a growing body of research shows it’s just as important to keep our brains healthy.

When it comes to brain health, looking after your heart, staying active, challenging your brain, eating well, and being social, are the foundations of maintaining it.
Brain health icons - heart health, exercise, engage brain, nutrition, be social

Look after your heart

Conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol, also increase the risk of developing dementia.

You can reduce this risk by managing these conditions through staying active, eating a heart healthy diet and choosing not to smoke.

Stay active

Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and stimulates the growth of brain cells and the connections between them. 

For people aged 65 years and over, it is recommended to engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days. Try to reduce the time you spend sitting down and break that time up as often as you can. Speak to your health team for individualised advice.

Challenge your brain

Research shows that trying new, challenging mental activities helps build new brain cells and strengthens connections between them.

It’s easy to fall into habits, so it’s important to try and introduce challenges, whether it’s learning a language, playing a musical instrument or enrolling in a course. It’s never too late to learn something new!

Eat well

Choosing a variety of healthy foods is another important way to boost brain health.

Saturated fats found in pies, biscuits, deep fried foods and meat are associated with an increased risk of dementia. Aim to include a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, legumes, wholegrains and ‘good fats’ such as those found in fish, olive oil and walnuts.

Be social

As well as making us feel good, being with other people has been shown to improve cognitive function and vascular health, and reduce depression.

Activities that combine mental, social and physical activity, such as golf, dancing or tennis, provide even greater benefit.

Expert advice for brain health

We consulted with two health professionals from ACH Group to explore the advantages of maintaining an active lifestyle and eating well. 

Michael Dobie, Dietitian

Good nutrition can help to decrease your risk of memory loss, maintain your strength and feel better as you age. Tip number 1 is – drink enough water! It will enhance your ability to concentrate, moderate mood and stave off fatigue.

Read Michael’s tips for boosting your brain health.

Jordan Paparella, Physiotherapist and Health Services Team Leader

Luke has witnessed the profound positive effects that regular physical activity can have on both the body and mind of older adults. Remember, it’s never too late to start a journey towards a healthier you.

Read Jordan’s tips for enhancing your brain health by staying active.

Is your brain up for a challenge?

This brain health crossword is packed with words relating to brain health – everything from brain-friendly foods to habits that keep us sharp.

Use the clues to fill in the words below. Words can go across or down. Letters are shared when the words intersect.

Download: Brain Health Crossword [.pdf]

Learn more about brain health and healthy ageing

What services are available at ACH Group?

ACH Group provides a range of services to suit individual needs and allow for choice, offering the right advice at the right time, no matter where someone is on their health and wellbeing journey.

With focus on health and wellbeing and staying socially connected in ways that suit a person’s abilities and interests, ACH Group is here to help.

Contact us to discuss which service option is best for you or the person you care for.

Healthy body, healthy mind

Walking for brain health - two older people enjoying an outdoor exercise

Enhance your brain health by staying active

Following Brain Awareness Week, we shared some simple tips to support brain health.

Embrace the great outdoors

Walking is a fantastic form of exercise. It’s low-impact, accessible, and South Australia’s beautiful parks and walking trails make it an appealing option. Not only does walking improve physical health, but it also offers a chance to socialise and connect with the community, while enriching your mental wellbeing.

Strenghten your heart and mind

Engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise is crucial. It boosts blood circulation, which increases oxygen supply to the brain and releases hormones that help in the growth and protection of brain cells.

Incorporate intervals of increased intensity during your exercises to keep your heart rate within an optimal range for your age, which is beneficial for both heart health and cognitive function. As always, contact your health team for individualised advice.

Build a routine with others

One of the best ways to stick to an exercise routine is to join others.

Whether it’s with friends, family, or a community group, shared activities provide encouragement and make it easier to form lasting habits. Plus, the social interaction can be as rewarding as the exercise itself.

Engage in dual-task activities

Activities like yoga, dancing, and tai chi, which challenge both your body and mind, are excellent for improving balance and cognitive skills such as reaction time.

At ACH Group, besides exercise and wellness groups, the HUR Senso machine offers fun and interactive dual-task training sessions that benefit both your physical and cognitive health.

HUR Senso is a physical training platform that uses a computer screen and pressure plate sensors to create interactive, dual-task training sessions, challenging the body and the brain at the same time. The Senso is located at our Health Studio Christie Downs and Health Studio Rostrevor.

A journey towards a healthier you

Regular physical activity can have profound positive effects on both the body and mind of older adults. Remember, it’s never too late to start a journey towards a healthier you.

Supporting you to achieve your health and wellbeing goals

Whether it’s being able to enjoy activities that you love or trying new ones, recovering from a setback, or managing an ongoing condition, we’re here to help. You can access health and wellbeing services in your own home, or at our three Health Studio locations at Christie Downs, Glenelg and Rostrevor.

Along with individual services, our specialised health programs combine exercise and education to promote independent living and positive health outcomes.

Contact us today to find out more.