When we think of anti-aging tactics many things spring to mind; healthy eating, exercise, those pesky liver spots on the face, etc. Nevertheless the truth is that we frequently neglect one of the key parts of our general health and well-being; our brain. A good brain, nourished thru diet, exercise and exertion can ward off or defer many of the serious results of the aging process for instance; Alzheimer’s and dementia.
A healthy brain can also significantly improve our quality of life by reducing prevalence of depression, agitation, compulsion and sexual dysfunction, to name a few. Controlling bodily functions and maintaining healthy is a huge job for this organ composed from grey matter. Therefore , it is vital that you provide it with plenty quality sleep.
Problematical for some, by others, sleep is one of the most effectual weapons in the anti-aging struggle. In his New York Times Bestseller, Brain Rules, author Dr. John Medina notes the relationship between adequate sleep, brain health and the aging inevitability, by outlining how sleep deprivation can actually “accelerate” it. “For example, if healthy 30-year-olds are sleep-deprived for six days (averaging, in this study, about four hours of sleep per night), parts of their body chemistry soon revert to that of a 60-year-olds” (p.162).
Obviously, we need be making every effort to get the proper hours of sleep needed in a 24 hour period to avoid brain drain. Dr. Medina maintains that as a society we should recognise that our collective level of efficiency and our state of brain health rely upon acceptable levels of sleep. He suggests we take the stigma out of sleeping and generally promote it as a tool to deal with our need for zzz’s. Additionally , that we must find ways to manage stress throughout the day so that we can maximize nightly sleeping prospects.
And anyway, it is important not to downplay the results of sleep deprivation and if feasible try to foster sleep in our own lives, so as to gain both the instant and long term benefits. Reflecting on this information, it’d be sensible to sleep on it tonight and as you do, your cortex will be well placed to fight the struggle against brown spots on the face and other decay of aging.
Kaye Gore is our Independent Online Contributor. As a mother of two, anti-aging advocate and fellow consumer, Kaye provides practical insight into a variety of timely SkinCare topics, including anti-aging creams and serums. At GENESIS SkinCare, with over 25 years in research and development, we appreciate her fresh perspective and we trust that you will too! Happy Reading.
