Pay attention to basic habits for a healthy brain

Neurologists state that the foundation of a healthy brain structure is laid in the womb; He warned that regular sleep, proper nutrition and physical activity should be made a lifestyle. Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Faculty of Medicine, Head of Department of Neurology and President of the Turkish Neurology Association, Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi said, "Brain health is not something that can be confined to just one day. We need to spread this not only to one day, but to every day, with regular sleep, regular eating habits and regular physical activities.

"We need to start the program that we have spread every day from the womb, from infancy, so that we can create healthy futures with healthy brains, he said. Terzi said that they carried out awareness activities through neurology clinics across Turkey and the Turkish Neurology Association within the scope of the 22 July "World Brain Day" declared by the World Federation of Neurology. Pointing out that there are many risk factors that negatively affect brain health, Terzi said, "The first of these are environmental pollution, electromagnetic field, salt and cigarette consumption, obesity and wrong eating habits.

However, we have genetic risk factors. "If there is a disease such as Alzheimer's, MS, Parkinson's inherited from the mother, father or generations, this increases the risk of neurological diseases, he said. Pointing out that brain health begins in the womb, Terzi continued: "The better our brain is, the better our future brains and future will be.

That's why we especially care about environmental factors and daily life activities. We say, eat better. We attach importance to a Mediterranean type kitchen habit, a salt-free, oil-free diet, rich in vegetables and fruits.

It is important for brain health to reduce salt consumption, stay away from factors that will negatively affect brain health such as smoking and alcohol, reduce screen exposure especially during the day, at least in closed environments, and stay away from these electromagnetic fields such as Wi-Fi and phones while sleeping at home in the evening. It is necessary to pay attention to these from the womb, and continue this with care after the baby is born. Terzi stated that physical activity is also very beneficial for brain health and said, "It is very important to walk and exercise at least 2-3 days a week, not to gain weight, and try to stay away from obesity.

This is very important in reducing risk factors such as cerebral vascular occlusions and brain hemorrhages. We have risk factors that need to be controlled, such as blood pressure and diabetes. These are harmful to brain health.

Therefore, if we have another disease other than neurological disease, these should also be controlled, he said. Stating that the elderly population is increasing day by day and that some neurological diseases are more common as the aging population increases, Terzi said, "Diseases, especially those seen in the middle and older age groups, such as dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and MS, cause both mental, cognitive and physical disability. The more we can raise the awareness of the society, the more we can highlight our preventive treatments for brain health.

After our brain becomes sick, it is necessary to protect the brain against those diseases. "We provide our patients with whatever medication they need, physical activities, physiotherapy programs and diet recommendations, so that they can manage their relationship with that neurological disease in the best possible way. Prof. Dr. Terzi underlined that July 22, World Brain Day, is an important day in terms of raising awareness and said: "Brain health is not something that can be confined to just one day.

We need to spread this not only to one day, but to every day, with regular sleep, regular eating habits and regular physical activities. We need to start the program that we spread every day from the womb, from infancy, so that we can create healthy futures with healthy minds.