When people think about protecting their health, they often focus on their heart, weight, or blood pressure. They may think about diet, physical activity, or habits that help them live longer and feel their best. Yet one of the most important parts of our health is often overlooked: the brain.
The brain is a complex organ that enables us to remember meaningful moments, make decisions, express emotions, and connect with others. Because it influences nearly every aspect of daily life, protecting brain health has become an increasingly important focus.
Brain health refers to how well the brain supports our ability to think, learn, remember, make decisions, and interact with the world around us. A healthy brain is essential to overall well-being, shaping everything from how we solve problems to how we maintain relationships and independence as we age.
Understanding how the brain changes over time is essential. While some cognitive changes occur with age, they vary widely. Age is a major risk factor, and in some cases, these changes may progress into serious conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.
The biological changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease may begin 20 years or more before symptoms appear. This discovery has changed how scientists approach the disease, shifting the focus toward risk reduction, early detection, and factors that protect the brain over time.
Alzheimer’s does not affect all communities equally. In the United States, older Black adults are about twice as likely to develop dementia compared with white adults; Hispanic adults are about 1.5 times more likely. These differences are driven by disparities in healthcare access, chronic health conditions, and social and economic factors that influence health over a lifetime.
Expanding access to education and research can help improve brain health outcomes and reduce the unequal burden of dementia across communities.
While the exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease are still being studied, researchers believe it develops from several factors. Age remains the greatest risk factor, but many influences are tied to lifestyle.
Studies estimate that as many as 45% of dementia cases may be connected to modifiable risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, hearing loss, social isolation, and lack of physical activity. This means that the steps people take to care for their bodies also help protect their brains.
For many years, people believed that memory loss was simply a normal part of getting older. However, research now shows that there is not just one way to age.
At the University of Chicago, researchers are studying “SuperAgers” — a group of adults 80 and older whose memory and thinking abilities are comparable to those of people decades younger. Through the SuperAging Research Initiative, led by neuroscientist Emily Rogalski, PhD, at the Healthy Aging & Alzheimer’s Research Care (HAARC) Center, researchers are studying adults ages 80 and older whose memory abilities are comparable to those of individuals 20 to 30 years younger. By examining SuperAgers’ lifestyles, health histories, brain imaging, and biological markers, the research team hopes to better understand what helps some individuals maintain exceptional brain health later in life.
Their experiences provide valuable clues about how the brain can remain resilient with age. While some people experience cognitive decline, others maintain remarkable mental sharpness well into their later years.
Research continues to highlight habits that can support brain health and may reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Many are easy to incorporate into everyday routines and benefit both the brain and overall health.
These include staying curious and challenging your mind, making movement a daily habit, monitoring blood pressure and overall health, choosing brain-healthy foods, and getting enough sleep. While each of these habits can support brain health on its own, research suggests that combining several healthy behaviors may provide greater benefits than any single change alone.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER) examined whether targeting multiple lifestyle factors could help maintain cognitive function in older adults. The program focused on four key areas that work together to support brain health: physical activity, cognitive and social engagement, a brain-healthy diet, and monitoring important health indicators such as blood pressure.
The results were encouraging. Participants who followed a structured lifestyle program showed improvements in memory and thinking over two years.
Cognitive decline is not an inevitable part of aging. Studies of SuperAgers and the U.S. POINTER show how people can play an active role in healthy aging and brain health.
Despite advances, Alzheimer’s significantly impacts communities. In Illinois, more than 250,000 people are living with the disease, supported by nearly 316,000 caregivers.
If you or someone you know is experiencing memory problems or changes in thinking, speaking with a healthcare provider is an important first step. A medical evaluation can help determine the cause of symptoms and identify possible treatment options.
Ultimately, what’s good for the heart is also good for the brain. Taking steps to support brain health today helps protect your memory and thinking abilities for the years ahead.
Learn more at alz.org/brainhealth or haarc.center.uchicago.edu.
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