It has been revealed that the human brain begins to shrink from the age of 30.
Milli.Az reports that this was stated by neurology specialist Mustafa Seçkin.
According to him, strengthening the "cognitive reserve" is of great importance to protect against "Alzheimer's" and dementia.
According to the specialist, although advancements in medicine increase the lifespan of people, protecting brain health is becoming an increasingly important issue.
Physical changes in the brain begin at age 30, but their effects are mostly felt after age 60:
"The 60s are the peak period for the brain in terms of thinking and wisdom. Although there is mild forgetfulness, synaptic density is high at these ages."
The specialist stated that Alzheimer's disease is a process that starts with protein accumulation in the brain and continues secretly for years. According to him, forgetfulness does not always mean Alzheimer's. "Brain fog" occurring after COVID-19, infections, and some tumors can also cause similar symptoms.
The neurologist emphasized that the strongest defense mechanism against the disease is the "cognitive reserve."
The main factors that increase this reserve are listed as follows:
social activity
playing a musical instrument
regular exercise
quality sleep
healthy nutrition
Mustafa Seçkin added that performing cardiovascular exercises together with strength training can help slow down the development of Alzheimer's. According to him, some substances secreted from muscles during exercise have a positive effect on brain repair.
The specialist also recalled that hearing and vision problems increase the risk of dementia.