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Neurologists Reveal Simple 10-Minute Morning Habit That May Protect Brain from Dementia
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Health & Science

Neurologists Reveal Simple 10-Minute Morning Habit That May Protect Brain from Dementia

From Veฤernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Neurologists suggest a simple morning routine could significantly reduce dementia rates worldwide.
  • This routine involves exposing one's eyes to direct sunlight within 30 minutes of waking, before screens or coffee.
  • While some users express skepticism and practical concerns, others report positive effects on sleep and cognitive health.

A simple morning habit could be key to preserving cognitive function and potentially reducing dementia rates globally, according to neurologist Dr. Neal K. Shah. He asserts that nonagenarians who remain cognitively sharp share a common practice within the first 30 minutes of waking.

Dr. Shah explains that the brain undergoes a crucial cleansing process during sleep, flushing out toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease. The quality of this nightly process, he claims, is directly influenced by morning activities. "What most people don't know is that the quality of tonight's cleaning cycle is determined by what you do tomorrow morning," he stated.

He identifies the common mistake many make: immediately reaching for their phones and scrolling. This, he argues, sabotages the brain's aging process. Instead, Dr. Shah advocates for exposing the eyes to direct sunlight within the first 30 minutes after waking, even before coffee or checking screens. This single action, he believes, helps regulate cortisol and melatonin levels, setting the stage for a healthy sleep-wake cycle and the brain's nightly detoxification.

Unutar prvih 30 minuta nakon buฤ‘enja, veฤ‡ina ljudi uzima svoj telefon, skrola i time sluฤajno sabotira najvaลพniju stvar u svom mozgu koji stari.

โ€” Dr. Neal K. ShahDescribing the common habit of checking phones upon waking and its negative impact.

However, Dr. Shah's advice has sparked debate online. Some users question the premise, pointing out that dementia predates smartphones and asking for evidence of increased rates correlating with screen time. Others highlight practical difficulties, such as the lack of sunlight in certain regions, making the routine impossible to follow daily.

Despite the skepticism, some individuals have reported positive outcomes. One user shared that adopting the habit of watching the sunrise has led to waking naturally and improved sleep quality, adding that they were unaware of its cognitive benefits. This discussion raises broader questions about the complexity of dementia prevention beyond a single, simple solution.

Unutar prvih 30 minuta nakon buฤ‘enja, prije bilo kakvih ekrana, ฤak i prije kave, prije svega. Ta jedna odluka postavlja vaลกe razine kortizola, melatonina i noฤ‡ni ciklus ฤiลกฤ‡enja vaลกeg mozga.

โ€” Dr. Neal K. ShahRecommending direct sunlight exposure as a beneficial morning activity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.