Lack of sleep, drinking too much alcohol, little exposure to sunlight, and social isolation can reduce cognitive function and accelerate brain aging.
An unhealthy lifestyle has a negative impact on the nervous system. Over time, they can affect memory and cognitive function. Below are 7 habits that negatively affect the brain.
Lack of sleep
Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, or more depending on their health status or physical activity level. Many people, especially young people, often go out and party at night and have the habit of staying up late, affecting their sleep quality. Regularly not getting enough sleep disrupts the brain’s rest process, easily leading to damage.
Smoke
Smoking and inhaling nicotine from cigarette smoke can harm organs in the body, including the brain. It also has the ability to impair cognitive function and increase the risk of diseases such as dementia and stroke.
Often at home alone
The brain begins to react slowly when a person spends too much time alone. The brain is one of the parts that needs to be active. If this process slows down, it can cause the brain to shrink and become forgetful. People who are alone for too long need more social interaction to keep their brains functioning optimally.
Drink too much alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol has the potential to harm the brain. Alcohol kills and risks damaging cell networks in the brain. Drinking too much alcohol changes nerve cells, shrinking their size, which can have serious and long-term effects on the brain.
Headphones turned on too loud
The eardrum is one of the most sensitive parts of the body. Using headphones that are too loud can damage your hearing. Headphones with excessive volume continuously for more than 30 minutes not only affect hearing loss but also affect brain tissue. This is because the brain has to work harder to understand the sounds being made around it, causing the tissues to become overactive.
Eating too much junk food
Gut health is linked to the brain. Therefore, eating a lot of unhealthy foods such as French fries, burgers, pizza or soft drinks is not good for the intestines, and can cause the brain to slow down or decline in function.
Less exposure to sunlight
Without enough natural light, the brain does not function optimally, increasing the risk of depression. Sunlight helps the brain perform better functions. People who are less exposed to the sun should go outside more often, at least 30 minutes a day.