Keeping your cool could be the key to keeping your mind.<\/p>\n
Researchers have long known that dementia risk<\/a> goes up with age, family history, poor diet, lack of exercise and even the loss of hearing, sight, smell and taste<\/a>.<\/p>\n But a new paper says chronic stress<\/a> is also a silent saboteur \u2014 one that can set the stage for long-term cognitive decline<\/a> if left unchecked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is hard to overstate the impact of stress on your cognitive health as you age,\u201d the experts wrote. Lifestock<\/p>\n \u201cIt is hard to overstate the impact of stress on your cognitive health as you age,\u201d Jennifer E. Graham-Engeland and Martin J. Sliwinski, healthy aging professors at Pennsylvania State University, wrote in The Conversation<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is in part because your psychological, behavioral and biological responses to everyday stressful events\u00a0are closely intertwined and each can amplify and interact with the other.\u201d<\/p>\n For example, chronic stress can keep you up at night, which can make you too tired to exercise<\/a>, which can make it harder to eat healthy \u2014 and so on. <\/p>\n Here are the four ways these experts suggesting fighting back against stress-related cognitive decline: <\/p>\n Rethink your routine<\/p>\n A few lifestyle tweaks could go a long way. Regular exercise, balanced meals, quality sleep<\/a>, and a little mindfulness<\/a> each day can reduce stress levels and strengthen your brain. <\/p>\n It\u2019s not about running marathons or eating kale by the pound \u2014 even small shifts in your day-to-day habits can help calm your nervous system<\/a> and reduce long-term risk.<\/p>\n Going for a walk outside \u2014 especially with a friend \u2014 has many health benefits, including for your brain. <\/p>\n Mind your mind<\/p>\n Just like you\u2019d treat a sore throat, mental health<\/a> needs care too. <\/p>\n Therapy, meditation apps, breathing exercises<\/a> \u2014 whatever helps you decompress is worth taking seriously. <\/p>\n Chronic anxiety and depression often go hand-in-hand with stress and can amplify cognitive strain.<\/p>\n Call the doctor <\/p>\n Think stress is a problem for a therapist, rather than a PCP? Think again. <\/p>\n Primary care doctors can help spot physical signs of chronic stress<\/a>, recommend next steps or refer you to a specialist. <\/p>\n Don\u2019t wait until symptoms pile up \u2014 early intervention can make all the difference.<\/p>\n Research shows a brief phone call or text message exchange with a friend can have major health benefits. <\/p>\n Socialize more <\/p>\n