Dr. B. Ravi Mohan Rao, Director & Senior Consultant  Neurosurgery, KIMS Hospitals,
Electronic City, Bengaluru

The brain is vital to many critical human functions. Nevertheless, several
misunderstandings about brain health prevail. When people hold on to these
untruths, they may ignore some symptoms, postpone treatment, or apply inefficient
techniques. For this reason, it is vital to know what the science says regarding this.

Memory loss is a normal part of ageing
It is common to forget something such as the place of your keys or to try to recall
somebodys name with age as well. Nevertheless, if you seem to experience a lack
of memory all the time which prevents you from doing your everyday activities, it
should not be considered as a natural feature of aging. This may point to some
problems of the neurological character.

Brain health is a concern only for the elderly
Keeping the brain healthy should be done at all ages. Substandard sleep, chronic
stress, inadequate diets, smoking, consuming excessive alcohol, and the poor
management of medical issues like diabetes or hypertension are risk factors
affecting the brain of even young people. This shows the need to maintain proper
health practices as early as possible.

Brain games are sufficient to ensure brain health
While activities such as crossword puzzles and memory games are entertaining and
promote the brains well-being, they are not the only factors that should be taken into
consideration regarding the brains fitness. Doctors recommend following a holistic
approach that should include physical activity, healthy eating habits, sleep, stress
management, and socializing.

Absence of symptoms indicates that the brain is healthy
There are many neurological diseases whose signs develop gradually. Increased
blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol level are conditions that can ruin
ones blood vessels and thus cause problems with cerebral circulation that are
dangerous to ones brain. Therefore, any person should regularly undergo scheduled
checks to ensure proper functioning of the brain.

Theres nothing you can do to reduce your risk of brain disease
While certain neurological diseases may, indeed, be hereditary, it can be seen that
people’s lifestyle choices greatly affect the health of their brain. Being physically
active, eating a diet full of plant foods, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, keeping an
optimal weight, and having chronic diseases under control reduce the risk of stroke
and cognitive decline.

This World Brain Day, doctors encourage the people to doubt myths and give
preference to evidence based methods. It is true that the brain can recover but it

always needs care. Detecting the first signs, following preventive medicine, as well
as adopting a healthy lifestyle lead to success in maintaining one’s memory, thinking
skills, and quality of life.