Brain Health

What is brain health?

Brain health means taking steps throughout your life to maintain care of your brain, so it works well both in the short- and long-term. It involves:

• Keeping your thinking skills sharp by learning new things and challenging your brain.
• Managing stress, getting treatment for depression, and maintaining a positive mood are also very good for your brain.
• Maintaining physical health plays a crucial role too, so eating healthy food, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are essential for your brain.
• Controlling high blood pressure and diabetes and maintaining good cardiovascular health help ensure that your brain receives enough oxygen and nutrients.
• Protecting your head from injuries and staying physically healthy can prevent brain problems over time.
• Engaging in healthy habits like avoiding smoking/vaping, excessive drinking, and drug use, along with engaging in activities like meditation and staying social, can further support brain health.
• Getting enough sleep is also critical to both physical and mental health.
• Combining good habits, staying active mentally and physically, and managing conditions like high blood pressure and depression to avoid harm to your brain.

Working closely with your VA and community clinicians to address Veteran and combat-specific challenges.

• Links to sources:
  • https://www.va.gov/geriatrics/brain/
  • https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/web/myhealthevet/ss20220913-take-care-of-your-brain

The Brain Health Coordinating Center (BHCC) is an exciting initiative with the primary goal of serving as a resource for improving brain health for Veterans across the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This is being accomplished by leveraging VA measures and other tools already being collected as part of care to facilitate better Veteran brain health. As an example, first steps include improving current health practices via Electronic Clinical Quality Measures, or eMetrics. These measures help your VA are providers track specific symptoms and other risk factors to determine individualized treatment plans that help improve overall brain health. To learn more about the BHCC, please visit: https://www.research.va.gov/resources/bhcc/default.cfm.

Brain Health Coordinating Center: eMetrics Initiative Proposed Phase 1 Focus Areas

Learn more about:

High blood pressure/hypertension and brain health

• Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps it around your body. It's important because it helps move blood to all your organs and tissues.
• Consistently high blood pressure, also called hypertension, can damage blood vessels in the brain. This damage can lead to problems like strokes or dementia over time, which affect thinking and memory.
• Keeping blood pressure at a healthy level helps ensure that the brain gets enough oxygen and nutrients to stay strong and work well.
• In short, managing blood pressure is crucial for protecting your brain and keeping it healthy.
• Links to sources
  • Identifying and Managing High Blood Pressure | Veterans Affairs
  • High Blood Pressure and Your Health: Managing the Silent Killer | Veterans Affairs
  • Diagnosis and Management of Hypertension: Patient Summary
  • High BP Patient Brochure
  • High blood pressure is linked to cognitive decline | National Institute on Aging

Depression and brain health

• Depression is a mental health condition that can affect your brain health. It can make it harder to think, remember things, and make decisions.
• Depression can also change the way your brain works.
• If depression is not treated, it can lead to long-term problems with brain health.
• Taking care of your mental health with treatments like therapy, medication, and healthy habits can help keep your brain healthy.
• Links to sources:
  • VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for The Management of Major Depressive Disorder: Patient Guide
  • PTSD and Depression | Veterans Affairs
  • Depression and Traumatic Brain Injury | Veterans Affairs
  • VA ORD Research on Depression
  • Depression, Anxiety, and Physical Health Problems

Sleep and brain health

• Sleep is highly important for brain health.
• When you sleep, your brain gets a chance to rest and repair itself.
• Good sleep helps improve memory, focus, and decision-making.
• It also helps your brain get rid of waste products that build up during the day.
• Not getting enough sleep can lead to problems like poor thinking, mood changes, and even a higher risk of diseases like Alzheimer's.
• Getting good sleep regularly keeps your brain working well and helps you stay healthy.
• Links to sources:
  • Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
  • Sleep Problems and PTSD | Veterans Affairs
  • Improving Sleep After Traumatic Brain Injury | Veterans Affairs
  • Treating Insomnia with Behavior Change: A Patient’s Guide (VA/DoD Patient-facing CPG materials)
  • OSA CPAP Therapy Booklet – VA/DoD patient-facing CPG materials
  • https://www.myhealth.va.gov/ss20220516-tips-to-sleep-better
  • https://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/docs/Brain_Health_Sleep.pdf
  • https://www.veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov/RelatedItems/142,HLM015_VA