Habits that cause brain atrophy and memory loss

There are daily habits that put a lot of pressure on our brains without us even realizing it. When these habits are repeated repeatedly and continuously, the possibility of brain atrophy and memory loss is very high.

Habits that lead to brain atrophy and memory loss

Insomnia

The National Sleep Foundation says most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. This gives our brains enough time to move through the stages of sleep, which gradually become deeper and end in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

REM sleep is when the brain actively works to keep us asleep – for example by paralyzing our limbs during dream states – while also activating brain regions responsible for learning.

This helps to consolidate memory, store it, and replenish energy. Therefore, it is not surprising that people who regularly lose sleep have difficulty concentrating.

Another study also found that lack of sleep can cause atrophy of the cerebral cortex, especially in people over 60. This suggests that sleep becomes more important as we age.

Smoking

With each cigarette, the smoker will inhale more than 7,000 toxic chemicals, of which about 69 are carcinogenic. Smoking also causes a series of other diseases such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, heart disease and stroke. At the same time, it seriously affects the brain, causing damage and memory loss.

Dehydration

The notion that alcohol can kill brain cells stems from the fact that the drink kickstarts a series of processes in the body, such as hygiene.

When you drink a lot of alcohol, alcohol inhibits the hormone vasopressin (which has the effect of retaining water in the body). This makes the body unable to retain urine, or water in the body, leading to dehydration. This is the reason why we feel uncomfortable after a hangover.

Dehydration also causes electrolyte imbalance, disrupts the communication process between nerve cells, leading to seizures. All of these causes the brain to work harder to perform its role, possibly causing it to shrink.

Stress

The stress hormone cortisol, released from the adrenal glands, is one of the main causes of stress. Normally, this hormone is responsible for directing energy to where it is most needed, such as the digestive system.

However, in people with chronic stress, cortisol levels are so high that the brain cannot produce more myelin-producing cells and fewer neurons. Myelin is the material that makes up the brain's white matter and transmits information between neurons. These changes in the brain can increase the risk of neurological disease.

Cocaine and other drugs

In a 2003 study on cocaine, scientists looked at brain samples taken from 35 deceased cocaine users and compared them to samples from 35 nonusers. They found that dopamine levels were much lower in the cocaine users.

Researchers believe that this damage to brain cells leads to drug addiction, and addicts will find it increasingly difficult to feel normal without drugs./.

According to VNN