Many of your daily patterns - your lifestyle and diet set the tone for your long-term health and well-being. According to experts, many of these habits contribute to poor brain health, which in the long run can contribute heavily to cognitive decline that causes dementia and Alzheimer’s. However, according to experts, these are the easiest to change as well. A few of these brain-damaging habits include:

According to doctors, lack of sleep is not good as the consequences of sleep deprivation lead to many physical and mental health issues. Sleeplessness causes insomnia, which, according to experts, causes dementia.

And so, it is best to create a regular bedtime routine. If you have trouble sleeping on time, avoid drinking alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and electronic devices at night, and do soothing activities before bedtime.

According to Harvard Health, an average adult sits for more than six-and-a-half hours daily, and all this chair time can massively affect your brain. A study in PLOS One found that sitting too much is linked to changes in a section of the brain essential to memory, being a precursor to cognitive decline and dementia.

And so, experts recommend moving after every 15-20 minutes of sitting. Also, make sure to become active and walk around your house, do push-ups against the kitchen counter, bang out several squats or lunges, and take a quick power walk around the neighborhood.

For those who maintain a regular diet of burgers, fries, pizzas, and carbonated drinks, the parts of your brain involved in learning, memory, and mental health get more severely affected than those eating a healthy diet.

And so, experts suggest consuming more berries, whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables – all of which preserve brain function and slow intellectual decline.

Not socializing enough

Loneliness causes stress, depression, and a higher risk of Alzheimer’s due to accelerated cognitive decline. According to studies, less socially active people lose more of the brain’s gray matter, the outer layer that processes information.

One of the most important reasons for brain damage and cognitive decline, according to doctors is smoking. It shrinks your brain, causing memory loss, apart from doubling the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's. Smoking also causes heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and high blood pressure.

When you smoke, nicotine reaches your brain within ten seconds – at first, it improves your mood and concentration, reduces anger and stress, muscles, and reduces cravings. However regular nicotine exposure leads to changes in the brain.

Chronic stress kills brain cells and shrinks the prefrontal cortex - the area responsible for memory and learning. Doctors say a major stress trigger is negativity that people have. And so, they suggest being flexible with your reactions and practicing stress-relieving exercises.

Staying in the dark too much and not being exposed to natural light for a long time increases the risk of depression and causes the brain to slow down. Studies have shown that sunlight helps the brain work more efficiently. Sunlight and darkness trigger the release of hormones in your brain.

Reduced sun exposure decreases the levels of the hormone serotonin, causing major seasonal depression. The light-generating effects of serotonin are triggered by sunlight passing through the eyes. And so, to help keep your mind awake and minimize the risk of cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, and Alzheimer's, you must actively maintain a healthy lifestyle.

If you are aware of a health issue or have been noticing certain signs and symptoms making you uncomfortable, it is important to see a doctor immediately and get treatment.

Ignoring your health issues leads to serious problems down the road - including brain damage. Untreated diseases are not just dangerous for your physical health but can also take a toll on you mentally.