Im a neurosurgeon 5 critical ways I keep my own brain healthy

It’s easy to get caught up in tending to your weight or the look of your biceps — but don’t forget about gains for your brain.“The brain is a part of our body.The same things that create wellness within our body create wellness within our brain,” Dr.

Randy D’Amico, director of the Brain and Spine Metastasis Program of Neurosurgery at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital, told The Post.“The brain is a network of networks.It is important to keep it strong, but it is equally important to replenish it.”Luckily, existing research tells us a lot about exactly what makes a real difference in keeping the brain healthy, our memory sharp and the mind agile.

D’Amico shared the ways he cares for his own brain day-to-day.Exercise promotes cardiovascular health, metabolic health, mood, sleep and cognition — all of which are deeply connected, D’Amico said.If you’re having trouble imagining how going to the gym affects your brain, research actually shows that lower body strength is directly related to healthy cognition as you get older.Here’s how: Gray matternaturally shrinks with age, and that loss can cause memory issues and be a sign of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

But people with stronger lower bodies show larger gray matter volume over time.D’Amico suggests resistance training, or working out with weights, bands or your own body weight, to keep up strength.

Then, maintain it with walking, cycling or using the elliptical.These are great ways to get your heart going, too.“The brain has blood vessels, and those blood vessels are pumped full of blood that’s pumped by your heart,” D’Amico said.

“Anything you’re doing to promote cardiovascular health, which exercise is paramount to, is going to promote brain health.It’s going to promote blood flow, oxygen delivery, and help the brain function better.”“Diet goes part and parcel with exercise,” D’Amico said.

Your brain requires fuel to work, and giving it better nutrition makes a differen...