June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and the piece below is one of several this month to educate the public about these critical topics.

ALZHEIMER’S disease is a serious problem that affects lots of people. But did you know there are things you can do to help protect your brain? Yes, it is true. You can build
up cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve is like a superpower hidden in your brain. It’s all about how strong and flexible your brain is — kind of like a muscle that gets stronger when you use it. When you do things that challenge your brain, like learning new things, solving puzzles, or even just having interesting conversations, you’re building up your cognitive reserve.

Think of it like this: Imagine two people, both the same age and both with Alzheimer’s disease. One person has a high level of cognitive reserve because they’ve spent their life learning new things and staying mentally active. The other person hasn’t been as mentally active and has a lower level of cognitive reserve.

Even though they both have Alzheimer’s, the person with a higher cognitive reserve might not show as many symptoms or might be able to function better in daily life. That’s because their brain has more “backup” to help them cope with the damage caused by Alzheimer’s.

So, how can you build up your cognitive reserve? It’s simple: keep your brain busy! Challenge yourself and increase your cognitive reserve by:

1) Completing new activities, learning new skills, and staying mentally engaged.

2) Lifelong learning, whether through continuing education programmes, reading, or intellectually stimulating hobbies (ie, completing crafts, completing puzzles)

3) Engaging in religious practices can provide benefits to brain health such as prayer, meditation, and attending religious services.

4) Socialisation and having conversations

5) Physical exercise.

The more you use your brain, the stronger it gets, and the better prepared you’ll be to face whatever challenges come your way. So go ahead, exercise your brain – it’s the best way to build up your cognitive reserve and keep your mind sharp for years to come.

Robiann Broomfield is currently completing her PhD in clinical psychology with a specialisation in neuropsychology. In addition, she is also completing her clinical internship at Baylor College of Medicine/TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in rehabilitation psychology and neuropsychology. Starting in September, she will begin a fellowship at Harvard Medical School in neuropsychology.