How to make your brain work better? Prevention of cognitive impairment

Why doesn't the brain think?

The brain is located in the cranium. It is protected from other organs and tissues by the blood-brain barrier. This is a protective layer through which infection, toxins and other damaging substances do not penetrate. Blood vessels and nerve trunks approach the brain. The following are the reasons why inhibition occurs due to dysfunction of these structures, combined with a deterioration in mental function:

• insufficient supply of nutrients, vitamins, microelements, minerals for normal neuronal metabolism;
• hypoxia, that is, oxygen starvation of brain tissue with the risk of damage;
• pinching, inflammation, damage to nerve trunks;

• slow metabolism;
• ischemic vascular disease of the central nervous system;
• chronic fatigue, lack of sleep;
• frequent stress, overexcitability, nervousness;
• severe dehydration.

After identifying the damaging factor, treatment begins. It is not enough to eliminate only the root cause; an integrated approach is required. Therapy methods are selected by a neurologist, cardiologist, therapist, psychotherapist. If treatment is not promptly addressed, the condition will gradually worsen. In addition to chronic fatigue and memory loss, a person may experience systemic diseases. For example, ischemic disease, neuralgia.

Fill the sound vector - turn on your head!

But still, the “main culprit” of the problem of inability to concentrate is the sound vector. When the sound artist finds meaning - in life, in the work he is doing - his head turns on. Remember how your ability to think increased when you were ignited by some important idea or thought. And when at the “System-Vector Psychology” training you realize the full potential of sound, you get answers to all the important questions that previously did not allow you to live in peace, when a strong interest in life and people appears, the effect of inclusion will be many times greater.

Disclosure of meaning that occurs during the training “System-vector psychology”

, fills dominant sound desires, and then desires awaken in other vectors. A person literally “lets go” - to live, desire, act and enjoy every moment. And, despite the significant effort that a person puts into working with his head (it’s harder than digging), the process of concentrating one’s thoughts on complex tasks becomes productive and begins to bring great pleasure.

Thinking efficiency is what your whole life depends on. Discover the joy of thinking and living to the fullest of your true potential!

Author of the publication: Marina Golomolzina, journalist Editor: Diana Kirss, family doctor
The article was written based on materials from the training “System-vector psychology”

How to choose treatment?

The method of therapy depends on the results of the examination. It is selected by the doctor individually for each patient. The main treatment methods are presented in the table.

The maximum effect cannot be achieved with the help of medications. It is recommended to simultaneously eat right, walk in the fresh air, and get enough sleep. Only by normalizing a healthy lifestyle can you improve your well-being.

Treatment of insomnia

Mental slowdown is often due to lack of sleep. A person can lie for a long time, but sleep does not come. For example, under stress, noise from the window. Diseases often occur that lead to chronic insomnia. To eliminate this condition, use the following methods:

• hot shower before bed;
• drinking warm drinks (milk with honey, tea);
• taking herbal decoctions with a sedative effect (hawthorn, lemon balm, valerian, motherwort);
• light sedatives (Novo-passit, Afobazol).

Meditation helps a lot. The patient abstracts from his thoughts and focuses on consciousness. Gradually, negative aspects and negative thoughts are eliminated. The person does not hear what is happening around. For him, only internal awareness is important. After this comes sleep.

Medicines based on melatonin help, which the patient produces in insufficient quantities, which is why insomnia occurs.

I use tranquilizers and strong sedatives only as a last resort. They are drunk when the patient has serious illnesses, but herbal or mild sedatives do not help. Buspirone, Amizil, Phenazepam, Diazepam are prescribed.

How will physical activity help?

When a person is exposed to physical activity, blood flow through the vessels accelerates and blood pressure increases. Therefore, blood along with nutrients reaches the brain tissues faster. The following components and substances are supplied with it:

• vitamins, including group B, which have a beneficial effect on neurons;
• oxygen, eliminating hypoxia;
• trace elements, minerals.

The supply of nutrients leads to increased metabolism. It causes an acceleration of cell reproduction, since there are enough vitamins and minerals for this process. Sports and other serious activities are not recommended. Doctors usually prescribe the following methods:

• yoga, pilates;
• swimming;
• exercise therapy exercises.

If physical activity is distributed correctly, there will be a beneficial effect not only for the cardiovascular system. Compression of nerve fibers is eliminated, so chronic pain in the head, back, and shoulder girdle disappears. The digestion process is normalized. Additionally, the doctor may prescribe physiotherapy. For example, visiting a pressure chamber has a beneficial effect on the central and peripheral nervous system. This is a supply of oxygen from the air under high tension; it penetrates the body in large quantities, eliminating hypoxia.

Mental exercises

If a person’s physical parameters are normal, it is recommended to use exercises to improve mental performance. They are used every day to achieve maximum effect. The following methods are recommended:

• counting up to 100 and counting down to 0;
• learning a poem by heart;

• daily calculation of the route to work, school and back home;
• solving logical problems, scanwords, crosswords;
• use of logic games;
• reading a large number of books with useful information;
• broaden their horizons by engaging in new activities (hobbies) that are unusual in everyday life;
• engage in creative activities, that is, draw, sing, play the piano.

Gradually, the brain begins to work, remembering new information. Walking in the fresh air will also help. For example, you can simultaneously solve logic problems while being outside. Solving mathematical examples helps a lot. Moreover, they take not simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, but complex exercises. They must take time before a person finds the answer.

If mathematics is not suitable for a person, Russian can be used. For example, they compose an essay. You can create a script for a cartoon or feature film.

How will Aminalon help?

Aminalon is a drug with a nootropic effect. It is based on gamma-aminobutyric acid. After administration, a pharmacological effect occurs:

• glucose utilization in the brain;
• elimination of toxic substances from the central nervous system;
• improvement of memory, thinking, speech;
• normalization of central circulation, stabilization of blood pressure;
• improved sleep.

The drug is indicated for use after traumatic brain injury, alcoholic encephalopathy, arterial hypertension, chronic headache, and deterioration of thinking. Side effects include dyspepsia, fever, insomnia, nausea and vomiting. The drug is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance.

After the first dose, blood pressure may fluctuate throughout the day.

The drug is used with caution when combined with other medications. For example, the simultaneous use of benzodiazepines, sleeping pills, and antiepileptic drugs is not recommended. With prolonged use, it is recommended to undergo laboratory blood and urine tests.

Piracetam to improve brain function

Piracetam is a medicine containing the active ingredient of the same name. This is a nootropic drug that enhances metabolism and blood flow in the brain. Additionally, the following action occurs:

• accelerated glucose utilization by neurons;
• normalization of microcirculation in ischemic disease;
• suppression of platelet aggregation;
• protection against brain damage under the influence of toxins, hypoxia, bacteria, electric shock.

The drug is indicated for memory impairment, poor concentration, and dementia. It helps well after brain injuries, Alzheimer's disease, and toxic damage. When consumed, children's learning ability increases. There is a risk of side effects:

• dyspeptic disorders;
• nervousness, agitation, irritability, insomnia;
• increased sexual activity.

Do not use the product after a hemorrhagic stroke. It negatively affects the patient with renal failure. The tablets are selected by the doctor to eliminate the risk of individual intolerance.

Where is the “thought fuel” lost?

According to a study conducted by David Meyer, Ph.D., of the American Psychological Association, even briefly switching to another task while working on the main one reduces productivity by 40 percent.

Multitasking here means not only solving work issues, but also any other actions.

Scrolling through Instagram feeds or watching funny videos on Youtube are also tasks, and no less mental resources are spent on them than on checking students’ notebooks. Thus, social networks and surfing the Internet cannot be considered as a “reboot” for the brain.

Another reason for mental fatigue is a large number of unfinished tasks. According to the “unfinished business concept,” developed by Soviet psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik, the brain constantly keeps such things and actions in mind (“Zeigarnik effect”) and, as a result, cannot relax, creating constant internal tension.

When will the condition return to normal?

Feeling better after complex therapy. It is recommended to follow all healthy lifestyle measures. You need to eat right, walk in the fresh air, and become physically active. Then you may not need long-term use of medications to normalize your well-being.

The decision to take nootropics is made by the doctor; they have side effects and contraindications that the patient may not be aware of.

If the use of nootropics is recommended, it is recommended to undergo a preliminary examination. 1-2 weeks after taking the drug, laboratory blood and urine tests are repeated to eliminate the risk of side effects.

After taking the medications, the condition returns to normal within 1 month. The effect is cumulative. If a person decides to do without drugs, but does exercise therapy, walks, eats the right food, drinks a lot of water, it may take longer. If changes occur in the brain, the fibers are restored gradually. It takes time for nutrients, vitamins, microelements, minerals, and oxygen to reach the brain.

Change your image and make a rearrangement

The brain gets used to the environment - the arrangement of furniture in the house and objects on the desktop, the reflection in the mirror and a set of familiar clothes. It is not necessary to carry out major repairs and radically change the appearance. It is enough, for example, to periodically make small redevelopments and, in order to “shake up” perceptions, try new things in clothes.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Use other routes

Home – work – home. This route may remain unchanged for years. The result is that the brain goes through it on autopilot, not getting involved in the process at all. Try to get to the office in different ways and thoroughly explore the area where you live, walk where you have not been before. And before traveling to a new place, carefully study the maps in advance and try to get to the desired point without looking at the map application and navigator tips.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Engage your sense of smell

Have you been using the same perfume for years? It's time to change that! A good way to get your brain working is to rid it of the “aromatic” routine. The sense of smell is an important channel for the perception of reality. You also need to periodically add something unusual to it, be it new perfumes or spices when cooking.

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Read color words

The names of the colors are written on the picture for this exercise (the name and color of the word do not match). You need to name the color, and not read the text. This is more complicated than it might seem at first glance. Try it!

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