Happy Brain awareness Week, March 11-17

Brain Awareness Week is an annual global campaign aimed at increasing the public’s interest in brain health by shining a light on current brain science and research. The campaign was established by The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives to increase awareness of the importance of brain research.

Brain Awareness Week is awesome because it’s a powerful platform for promoting brain health, advancing scientific knowledge, and fostering a greater sense of empathy and understanding toward individuals living with neurological and mental health disorders.

There has been an increased interest in challenges with mental health due to COVID related health issues. These issues coupled with an aging population trying to find creative ways to maintain their cognitive health has led to increasing research in brain science.

Keeping your brain healthy involves more than just eating healthy. Your brain also needs exercise. We are talking about both physical and mental exercise. While physical exercise keeps your heart and longs delivering oxygen and nutrients to your brain, mental challenges are just as important to help keep your brain neurons firing.

Keeping your neurons active is just as important as keeping your muscles active. Your brain is like a muscle in that you need to “use it” to keep it healthy. By “use it”, we mean, challenge it by learning new things. 

To learn more about brain health and Brain Awareness Week and why it is so important, check out the Dana Foundation at https://dana.org/brain-awareness-week/

Also, check out this short video from the Dana Foundation. https://youtu.be/j8gSV0gIxv4?si=R6FdmFsUIa1bz_iw It’s full of fun facts!