June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month: Learn 10 Ways to Love Your Brain

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, which makes it the perfect time to think about how we're caring for one of our most vital organs. The good news? Protecting your brain health is something you can start at any age—and even small, consistent habits can make a meaningful difference. Here are 10 science-backed ways to show your brain some love.

1. Challenge Your Mind

Be curious. Learn something new, try something creative or pick up a skill you've never attempted before. According to the Alzheimer's Association, challenging your mind may have both short- and long-term benefits for brain health, including potentially lowering the risk of cognitive decline.

2. Keep Learning

Education is one of the most powerful tools for brain health. Continuing your education, whether through a degree program, a community class or an online course, has been shown to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. It's never too late to go back to school.

3. Get Moving

Regular physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, which supports cognitive function. The Alzheimer's Association recommends activities that raise your heart rate, but the key is finding movement you enjoy, whether that's walking, dancing or gardening, and building it into your routine.

4. Train Your Brain with Apps

Just like your muscles, your brain can benefit from targeted exercise. Brain training apps like Lumosity, Elevate and Fit Brains Trainer use the concept of neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form new connections, to help improve focus, memory and problem-solving skills. Even a single session a day can help.

5. Eat Right

What you eat affects how your brain functions. A diet rich in vegetables, lean proteins and less-processed foods can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Small, sustainable changes to your eating habits add up over time.

6. Sleep Well

Quality sleep is essential for brain health. Staying off screens before bed, creating a comfortable sleep environment and addressing issues like sleep apnea are all steps that support better rest and, in turn, better cognitive function.

7. Manage Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a known risk factor for cognitive decline. Working with a healthcare provider to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range through medication, diet or exercise, is one of the most direct ways to protect your brain as you age.

8. Protect Your Head

Brain injuries, even seemingly minor ones, can have lasting effects on cognitive health. Wearing a helmet during activities like biking, fastening your seatbelt and taking steps to prevent falls are simple but important protective habits.

9. Be Smoke-Free

If you smoke, quitting can lower the risk of cognitive decline to levels closer to those who have never smoked. It's never too late to stop, and your brain will benefit.

10. Prioritize Mental Wellness

Brain health and mental health are deeply connected. More than one in five U.S. adults live with some form of mental illness, and behavioral health support plays a critical role in overall wellbeing. Whether you're a student managing stress or a professional looking to better understand mental health, investing in this area matters.

Interested in Making Mental Health Your Career?

If brain and behavioral health topics speak to you professionally, Herzing University offers a range of programs designed to prepare you to make a real impact. From psychology and social work to our highly regarded Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs, there's a path for wherever you are in your education. In 2025, Herzing PMHNP graduate testers achieved a 99% pass rate on their board certification exams, reflecting the quality of preparation students receive.¹

Caring for the brain starts with awareness. And it starts with you.

Disclosures

1. Pass rates are self-reported by graduates and additionally collected through public information, State Board of Nursing, and appropriate certification agencies. Includes post-baccalaureate (traditional), accelerated (RN to MSN), and post-master's certificate options. Graduates from Herzing’s APRN Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner programs can choose to take their board certification exam through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). For complete pass rate information, please visit https://www.herzing.edu/consumer-disclosures/pass-rates/nursing.