Promoting Brain Health

Discover the ways you can promote brain health and reduce your risk of developing dementia.

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Overview

Understanding Brain Health

Learn about some of the healthy lifestyle behaviours that you can do to reduce your risk of developing dementia.

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The importance of brain health

Promoting brain health is important because our brain is the control centre of our body and plays a critical role in our overall well-being. The brain controls everything from our thoughts, emotions, and behaviour to our movement, senses, and bodily functions. Maintaining good brain health can help prevent or delay the onset of cognitive decline and brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Recent research has shown that there are several actions you can take to promote brain health and delay or prevent cognitive impairment.

It is never too early or too late to reduce your risk of dementia.

Read our detailed overview to learn more about what you can do to promote your brain.

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Explore the Promoting Brain Health Topic

Physical Activity

Older adults should be physically active each day, minimize sedentary behaviour, and achieve sufficient sleep. But what are the specific recommendations exactly?

Physical Activity Overview

Diet and Nutrition

Being overweight, diet, and nutrition can all have an impact on brain function and health. Learn about weight management, the Mediterranean Diet, and the Brain Health Food Guide.

Diet and Nutrition Overview

Other Conditions and Rx

Did you know that hearing loss is an important risk factor for dementia? Learn more about it, other key conditions, and what you can do.

Other Conditions Overview

Coming Soon! Free Micro-Learning

Subscribe to our upcoming email-based micro-learning series on how to promote brain health.

Curated Resources

Helpful Links and Resources

Expert-selected websites and documents related to cognitive impairment.

Promoting Brain Health PDF Download: Download this 2-page handout with key points about brain health, as well as helpful resources.
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Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines: Canada’s first ever 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults offer clear direction on what a healthy 24 hours looks like for Canadian adults aged 65 years and older.
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Brain Health Food Guide: The Brain Health Food Guide, developed by Baycrest, provides practical advice about healthy eating for the aging brain.
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Fountain of Health: Tap into five actions you can take to maximize your health and happiness. Use The Wellness App assess your health and resilience, set doable goals and track your progress.
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Blood pressure as we age: What is a healthy target?: Learn more about high blood pressure and healthy targets in this series of videos on the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal.
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Smokers' Helpline: Access free and personalized tools to help you quit smoking successfully from the Canadian Cancer Society.
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Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health: Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health provides people living in Canada with the information they need to make well-informed and responsible decisions about their alcohol consumption.
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CCSA Drinking Less is Better Infographic: Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, Public Summary: Drinking Less Is Better (Infographic) from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.
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Dementia Risk Reduction - McMaster Optimal Aging Portal: Comprehensive review of how you can reduce your risk of dementia.
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McMaster Optimal Aging Portal: Your source for healthy aging information you can trust.
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Exercise: Power Medicine for Health and Aging: In this webinar recording, renowned kinesiology researcher, Dr. Stuart Phillips, shares how much (or how little) people have to do to improve their odds of living longer, healthier and better lives.
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Hacking Exercise for Health. The Surprising New Science of Fitness: Take this free online course developed by experts from McMaster University to learn more about the right mix between cardio and strength training.
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Diabetes: Types, tests and what to do if you are at risk: Learn about diabetes, prediabetes, and whether type 2 diabetes can be reversed in this series of video posts on the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal.
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Walking Speed - Is It a New Vital Sign?: Learn about walking speed and what it means for your mobility and overall health in this 15-minute e-learning lesson from McMaster University.
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Osteoarthritis and Exercise: Learn how to best manage osteoarthritis of the hip and knee with exercise. Reduce your symptoms and improve your mobility in this 15-minute e-learning lesson from McMaster University.
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iGericare Dementia Education for Family Caregivers: Learn more about dementia and mild cognitive impairment with free online lessons developed by experts in dementia and online learning at McMaster University.
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Social Isolation: Are You at Risk?: Discover the risk factors. Learn how social isolation impacts health and well-being, and practical ways to reduce your risk in this 20-minute e-learning lesson from McMaster University.
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