Oak Street Health; Health Tip of the Week

FOR IMMEDIATERELEASE

March 5, 2015

CONTACT

Vanessa Hall

773-391-1295

Oak Street Health; Health Tip of the Week:

CHICAGO, IL (March 5, 2015)As part of Oak Street Health’s ongoing commitment to health literacy and Making Health Make Sense, Oak Street Health is providing weekly health tips. This week’s tip gives some valuable information on what is normal and abnormal brain aging.

As we get older, so do our brains. It’s called “cognitive aging,” and it is common for old adults to worry about a decline in their brain health and cognitive abilities. Some studies suggest that as many as 80 percent of people over the age of 50 have these concerns.

What’s normal?

·  Having occasional difficulty remembering someone’s name.

·  Having occasional trouble finding words when speaking.

What’s not normal and/or concerning?

·  Not being able to recognize faces of people you already know.

·  Having very frequent trouble finding words.

Oak Street Health recommends the following activities to help support healthy brain aging:

·  Do mental exercise. Puzzles and other brain games have been shown to lower risk of dementia.

·  Do physical exercise. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise causes growth in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that handles memory.

·  Have a social life: Studies have demonstrated that more social connection is better for brain aging.

·  Eat healthy foods. A diet with lots of fruits and vegetables is better for the brain.

·  Avoid head trauma and drugs.

So get out there and stay physically and mentally active, keep your social calendar active and eat healthy. It’s good for your brain.

Source: http://healthhub.brighamandwomens.org/healthy-brain-aging-what-can-you-expect

The information presented is not intended to take the place of your personal physician’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss this information with your own physician or healthcare provider to determine what is right for you. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions.

About Oak Street Health

Based in Chicago, Oak Street Health is a network of primary-care doctor's offices for people on Medicare with an innovative model of care focused on keeping our patients healthy and out of the hospital. We try to build relationships between our patients and their doctors and care teams, and we invest in giving our patients access to care when they need it. We have on-site dental and pharmacy services in some of our clinics, and daily activities in our community rooms. Oak Street Health has five locations in Chicago, and also has locations in Blue Island and Berwyn.