Brain Protection: 4 Habits That Can Harm Your Memory & Health

The provided text discusses four daily habits that can negatively impact brain health and memory, according to Baibing Chen, a clinical lecturer in neurology at the University of Michigan.

Here’s a breakdown of the habits and their potential consequences:

1. Over-reliance on GPS navigation: While GPS is convenient,excessive use can weaken spatial memory. Studies suggest that professions requiring strong spatial skills,like taxi drivers,have larger hippocampi (a brain region associated with memory) and may be less prone to Alzheimer’s. Dr. Chen suggests occasionally navigating without GPS to exercise spatial memory.

1. Consuming energy drinks: These drinks, often high in caffeine, taurine, and vitamin B, can led to cardiovascular issues like hypertension, palpitations, and arrhythmia. Neurologically, they can cause insomnia, anxiety, irritability, and even seizures. Excessive vitamin B6, in particular, can accumulate and lead to poisoning and peripheral neuropathy.

1. Overuse of patent medicines (over-the-counter drugs): Even readily available medications should be used according to doctor’s instructions and dosage recommendations. Overusing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, and kidney problems. Overusing acetaminophen is a leading cause of liver failure in the US. Some over-the-counter drugs can also have rare but serious side effects, such as bismuth poisoning mimicking dementia symptoms or spinal cord injury from excessive zinc intake.

1. Not preventing insect bites when outdoors: The text mentions that Dr. Chen pays attention to his surroundings and uses insecticides appropriately when outdoors.This implies that neglecting insect bite prevention can lead to infections.