07/07/2026
Hello, walkers of Lebanon! I hope you all enjoyed your Independence Day celebrations despite the challenges that Mother Nature gave us.
June's talk focused on Alzheimer's prevention. Our genes dictate the fate of our brains to a certain degree, but there is much we can do to forestall cognitive decline. Number one on the list: Regular Exercise! Moving our bodies and getting our hearts pumping increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Other things we can do to prolong the sharpness of our minds: Eat nutritious food; avoid sugary foods and drinks and processed foods (like sugar-sweetened cereals, fruit-flavored yogurts, cookies, chips, etc); stay socially active with friends and the community; prioritize getting 7-9 hours of sleep; limit alcohol; and treat hearing loss, as it helps you to stay socially engaged and keeps the hearing part of your brain working. Those crossword puzzles you've been encouraged to do to keep your mind intact? They may be fun to do, but they don't actually help for Alzheimer's protection, as they simple test info that you already know, but don't actually contribute to new neural connections in the brain, which is what we need to maintain mental sharpness. Instead, try out new activities that challenge your brain in different ways, like learning a new language, taking a painting or ceramics class, learning how to play an instrument, or learning to cook -- better still if you do these things with others to stay socially engaged at the same time! And when you retire, don't retire to your couch! Some studies show that the rate of brain degeneration speeds up after retirement. Stay active in the community through volunteer work or other brain-stimulating activities.
Looking forward to seeing you all at our July walk, on Saturday, July 18th at 10am at Union Canal Tunnel Park. Until then, Be Well.
Family First Health
Walk With A Doc
