A report has revealed six daily habits to “slow down aging”.
The expert is the architect of what is known as the “SHIELD plan”, which aims to protect health.
The expert said: “I work more, enjoy more, and feel more excited than ever in my life.”
The plan, which works to slow down and protect brain health, is based on:
1. Sleep
The expert said: “When you sleep, you not only consolidate memories but also flush toxins from your brain. You are essentially detoxifying amyloid, the sticky substance linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Every time you enter deep sleep, it’s like a brain-cleaning cycle.”
If you sleep less than 7 hours, the expert recommends taking a short nap in the middle of the day.
2. Stress Management
The expert explained that “stress stimulates the release of cortisol,” a chemical that is “toxic to the brain.”
They warned that “the demands of modern life, such as keeping up with social media and responding to messages, raise stress to unprecedented levels.”
They explained: “Many people are stressed due to constant internal dialogue. Words often swirl in our heads. One trick is to sit down, close your eyes, and gently try to prevent words and sentences from entering your brain. Think only in pictures. I have made it a point in my life to stop the internal dialogue as much as possible. Every hour or two, I close my eyes, and anything that comes to mind is acceptable as long as I don’t hear words.”
They noted that “focusing on what happened in the past or worrying about the future can be harmful.”
3. Interacting with Friends
The expert pointed out that “maintaining an active social life stimulates the brain,” mentioning that they stay in touch with a group of old friends via text messages, but without overdoing it.
4. Exercise
The expert advised regular physical activity to enhance blood flow to the brain and support the growth of new neural connections, which helps in prevention.
5. Learning New Things
They said: “Learning new things creates new connections called synapses. There are tens of trillions of them, and they form a neural network that stores all your memories. What leads to cognitive decline or dementia is the deterioration of these synapses, and what you are doing here is building your synaptic reserve.”
The expert recommends learning to play musical instruments, watching documentaries, reading books, listening to talk shows, and embarking on new adventures.
6. Diet
The expert said: “The most important thing is to follow a diet that pleases your microbiome bacteria. When they are balanced in the right proportions, they work to calm the nerves. We used to say that what is good for the heart is good for the brain, and it turns out this is true.”
The expert follows the Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and olive oil.
