In Canada, over 700,000 people are diagnosed with diseases such as Alzheimer, Parkinson or dementia in some form or another. There are more than 70,000 in the province of British Columbia alone. It is something that we as aging adults are certainly concerned with and may even have had a friend or family member succumb to. Currently, there is no cure.

Here is what we do know and something that we can do about it. Brain health begins with good nutrition, just as good health for the rest of our body does. Colourfull and wholesome foods in their unprocessed form are the order of the day. So we try to eat right, get a regular amount of activity and challenge ourselves with intrigue. It's all good. What we have learned on the cutting edge of our studies with this dreaded disease is that our very human nature is what may just help with the cure: be the social being that you are.

Socialization and human interaction are the biggest combative tools we can utilize in the battle for a healthy brain. Yes there are some aspects that we know are genetic predisposition, heredity, that cause us doubt in the fight. But we also know that we can rise up by developing new healthy neurons in keeping our brains stimulated. Stay on guard with regular check ups working with your Doctor. Slow down the aging progression by getting involved in social interaction as often as you can with family, neighbours, grandchildren and community.

Simple human contact, a stimulating conversation, solving a problem or recalling a memory, helps create activity in the brain connecting neurotransmitters and producing serotonin to keep us thinking, sending out messages to our bodies and the world. It keeps us living vibrantly! Does it sound too easy? Well, it is. So challenge yourself to get out and get social. Keep your mind expansive and hungry for knowledge! Create an opportunity to strike up a conversation. You never know who you might meet or what may come up in conversation. You might just find yourself cuddled up with a good book, or someone who's read one!