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10 Lifestyle Habits That Shrink Your Brain

Cerebral atrophy is a common feature of many of the diseases that affect the brain. Atrophy of any tissue means a decrement in the size of the cell, which can be due to progressive loss of cytoplasmic proteins.

In brain tissue, atrophy describes a loss of neurons and the connections between them. In simple words, as you age, the brain tends to shrink in size.

Scared? Well, this is a normal thing that happens to all of us, as we gradually become old. However, with the current lifestyle we all are leading, there are certain habits that might speed up this activity and shrink our brain much before we age.

So, listed below are some of the habits that have a significant reaction on the brain, which causes the mind to stop thinking; and over a period of time, the brain turns to become lazy and inactive.

Getting involved in other things, apart from these habits, is a wise thing to do, since you are exercising the brain and keeping it healthy.

So, if you are following any of these unhealthy habits of late, it is time to change and think of positive things that will avoid shrinking your brain before time.

Hence, take a look at these lifestyle habits that shrink your brain:

No Breakfast:

No Breakfast:

Eating breakfast has a significant effect on the brain. The food that we consume tends to influence the release of certain chemicals, which can lead to positive feelings. If we fail to eat breakfast, the mind slowly becomes active; and if the habit is followed, this lazy habit will make your brain shrink.

Lack Of Sleep:

Lack Of Sleep:

Sleep deprivation has a negative impact on the brain. It lowers alertness and concentration, and it also affects the concentration of the mind, which is not at all healthy to perform your day-to-day activities.

When You Avoid Exercising:

When You Avoid Exercising:

Being lazy and inactive is relatively not good for the entire system. By being active, you are encouraging and increasing the cognitive abilities in the brain, thus not allowing it to shrink over time.

Glaring At Your Phone:

Glaring At Your Phone:

Some of the daily habits we do every day can really put our health at risk. Staring at the phone every day is unhealthy for the brain, since the phone emits a bright blue light, so that you can view the content even at the sunniest times of a day. But at night, the brain gets confused by that blue light, as it mimics the brightness of the sun. This causes the brain to stop producing melatonin, a hormone that gives your body the "time to sleep" cues.

Refusing That H2O:

Refusing That H2O:

Water should ideally be your favourite drink right through the year. Water benefits the body by providing a good circulation and also helps in keeping you active.The brain requires more water than any other part of the body because it contains 20% of the blood circulating through the body at any one time. Brain cells are about 85% of water.

Abusing Alcohol:

Abusing Alcohol:

Drinking alcohol is okay, but overdoing the consumption is an addiction, and this habit is not healthy for the brain. Since alcohol is a depressant, it acts on the brain and affects the thinking and thought process of a person.

Erotic Drugs:

Erotic Drugs:

The illegal drug 'ecstasy' can damage nerve cells in the brain. It can induce memory loss, decrease cognitive performance and has long-lasting effects on the behaviour. This is one of the worst habits that shrink your brain.

Stress Kills You:

Stress Kills You:

Stress is a silent killer, so it is necessary to manage the killer by keeping it under control. Stress can kill your brain cells, particularly in the areas associated with memory and learning, according to a new study. So, make sure you tame that stress down.

Over Indulging In Food:

Over Indulging In Food:

Obesity is the second highest disease that is killing more than a million of people all over the world. By being obese, you are destroying your heart as well as the brain. Reports show that those who consume less or the right amount of food can prevent Parkinson's disease.

Smoking That Butt:

Smoking That Butt:

They don't just say "smoking kills" for fun! It is true that smoking literally kills you, and it is not only the lungs, it is the brain too. Studies have revealed that regular smoking can actually cause key tissues of the brain to thin down, which makes the brain to decrease in size over time.

Story first published: Thursday, February 18, 2016, 12:07 [IST]
Read more about: health tips brain disorders cure