Brain Health Facts
Brain Health Fact #1
The brain is arguably the most important organ in the human body. It controls and coordinates actions and reactions, movement, allows us to think and feel, and enables us to have memories and feelings—all the things that give us our unique personality. However, the prevalence of brain disease and cognitive impairment is startlingly high and continues to grow.
Brain Health Fact #2
More than 10 million people worldwide are living with PD.
Brain Health Fact #3
Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide. Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are the most common neurodegenerative diseases. In the United States, as many as 6.2 million people may have Alzheimer’s disease, according to a report from the Alzheimer's Disease Association in 2022. Nearly a million Americans are living with Parkinson’s disease, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Brain Health Fact #4
In the United States, around 1.7 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury, with adolescents between ages 15 and 19 and adults aged 65 and older among the most likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also known as a brain concussion, initially was considered to be a benign occurrence.
Brain Health Fact #5
Dementia is not a single disease. Instead, dementia is an umbrella term that describes a collection of symptoms. These symptoms are caused by the deterioration of brain tissue, which is normally caused by a build-up of toxic proteins. Over 50 conditions are known to cause the symptoms of dementia.
Brain Health Fact #6
Because of a property called neuroplasticity, the brain is constantly changing in response to the experience. Neuroplasticity is one of the brain’s most important properties, as it lets us learn and adapt to our environment. Plasticity can occur in many ways: synapses – the junctions between neurons – can change strength (a bit like changing the volume of a conversation), new synapses can appear or disappear, and in some parts of the brain, brand-new neurons can be born.
Brain Health Fact #7
Everyday habits like exercise and eating right can lower risks for memory loss and other symptoms of cognitive decline, research suggests. Studies have also found that managing blood pressure and blood sugar can benefit the brain — the same goes for sleep and social engagement.
Brain Health Fact #8
Our brains and bodies regulate our sleep and circadian rhythms. Equally so, our sleep and circadian rhythms affect our brains and bodies. Sleep disturbances have a broad impact on our health and body functions. They’re also linked to an increased risk for disease, including neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Some data indicate that sleep and circadian rhythm dysfunction, such as fragmented sleep or night wakings, may be risk factor for these types of brain diseases.