A 5-Step Method To Support Cognitive Function, From Neurologists

Our lives have not gotten any simpler. Instead, our lives—and especially our minds—are overwhelmed by the hundreds of decisions we must make at work and at home every day; the relentless television programs and news cycle to keep up with; our phones that aren't just used for calls but instead call on us to connect with work, family, and friends; and so much more.

You have the ability to improve your brain function, to increase your neural connectivity to protect yourself against most degenerative, vascular, and inflammatory diseases of the brain. Better yet, you can profoundly improve your brain function starting right now.

Our five-pronged approach to improving cognitive health, as well as overall health, is called the NEURO Plan. NEURO stands for nutrition, exercise, unwind, restore, optimize:

With every meal you eat, you either make or break your brain. You choose, with every bite, which direction to tilt the needle. The good news here is that if every meal can damage, then every meal can heal. That's the power of food. We can move beyond simply consuming calories for survival.

Regular exercise reduces inflammation and oxidative processes1 so that if you eat an unhealthy meal, exercise will help you create an environment that reduces the damage caused by that meal.

You will identify your stressors and practice methods of relieving bad stress such as meditation, mindful breathing, listening to music, journaling, and engaging in a variety of practices that will help you find a sense of calm.

You will learn some "best practices" for getting a good night's sleep, including going to bed at the right time, waking up at the right time, and avoiding sleep-distorting habits, like looking at TV, phone, tablet, or computer screens before bed.

You will spend quality time with friends and family, learn new things, and dive into brain-stretching activities. What is true for your body's pathways is true for every aspect of life.

If you follow even just one aspect of the NEURO Plan, your risk of Alzheimer's drops significantly. But if you work with them all together, we believe your risk of developing dementia, stroke, and many other diseases of the brain drops by as much as 80 to 90%.