What is Brain Health?
Your brain is a complex space and arguably the most important organ in the body. It controls your actions, reactions, feelings, emotions, and memories. Brain health is considered to be “the state of brain function across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioral and motor domains” according to WorldHealthOrganization.org. In simpler terms, it’s the current health of your “noodle”.
The brain is the only organ that has a direct line of communication with all other organs in the body. Here are a few of the brain’s responsibilities:
The brain receives, interprets, and processes information from the body’s sensory organs (eyes, ears, skin) to make sense of the external environment.
The brain sends signals to muscles and organs coordinating voluntary and involuntary movements. This includes everything from walking and talking to your heart rate and digestion which is referred to as your motor control.
The brain is responsible for cognitive functions such as thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision making which allows us to learn, adapt and navigate complex situations.
The brain stores and retrieves information into short-term and long-term memory allowing us to learn from past experiences.
The brain regulates and processes emotions.
The brain regulates bodily functions such as temperature, blood pressure, and fluid balance which is essential for survival.
The brain communicates with the endocrine system influencing the release of hormones that regulate various bodily functions including growth, metabolism and stress response.
“The human brain, which is the most complex thing in the known universe, is itself composed of 100 billion neurons.”
Because the brain is responsible for so many things at once, it consumes about 20% of your body’s total energy output. One common myth is that your brain “shuts off” when you go to sleep - dreams are proof that this is not true. Even when you’re sleeping - your brain is working to consolidate memories, detox from waste, regulate your temperature, and reset your learning abilities for the next day. On any given day you’re likely to have experienced around 70,000 thoughts, countless emotions and so many automated responses that are essential to human function.
Mental health & brain health are heavily connected but considered to be two separate topics. Brain Health refers to the overall functioning state of the organ (your brain). Mental health is your emotional, psychological and social well-being. At Noodle, we believe that the two can be holistically looked at and treated, together. If you’re trying to improve your mental health - it starts at nourishing the basics within your brain.
Diet, exercise, mindfulness practices and sleep play a crucial role in overall brain health. As we age, our brains start to lose memory, cognitive abilities and sometimes communication lines with other systems in the body. You can see this decline start to happen as early as our late 20’s. In addition to age related decline, many diseases are linked to directly impacting your brain including cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. This proves the earlier point, that the brain is heavily connected to all other systems in the body.
Globally there was an estimated 50 million people living with dementia in 2021. By 2050 that is expected to jump to 156 million partially due to lack of intervention for brain wellness. Healthy lifestyle choices and managing chronic conditions can help you preserve your brain health and in some cases reduce your risk of developing disease. Common causes of neurological diseases include:
Genetics - mutations or variations in certain gene types increases your risk of developing certain conditions like Huntington’s Disease, Muscular Dystrophy or certain Epilepsy’s.
Environmental factors such as toxins or pollutants can compromise brain health.
Infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites can have a direct effect on your nervous system causing neurological distress and disease.
Traumatic events or accidents can result in brain damage or injury.
Some autoimmune diseases directly affect the brain.
Aging and degenerative processes contribute to neurological diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinsons, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Metabolic disorders can cause an accumulation of substances in the brain which has negative side effects
Vascular issues (clots, strokes, vascular malformations) can disrupt blood flow to the brain
Our mission at noodle is to be an advocate for optimal brain health - to help you feel happier, stronger, clearer and well suited to navigate life’s complex plot. We’re here to educate and make recommendations for optimal performance. We will scan the internet for the best products, resources and brands surrounding brain health so you don’t have to.
