Keeping Your Brain Healthy

Many factors can help to keep the brain healthy. For World Brain Day, Rachel, from Rachel Kili Physiothearpy, was invited to speak on Radio Shropshire about brain health and the practical steps people can take to support their brain and overall wellbeing.

As part of the discussion, presenter Clare Ashford visited one of Rachel’s clients, Molly, who is living with Parkinson’s disease. Together, they explored how Parkinson’s can affect movement, independence and everyday life, as well as the importance of taking a whole-person approach to managing neurological conditions.

Six things to help your brain

Rachel highlights six key elements that can help nourish and replenish the brain:

1. Sleep – Quality is often more important than simply counting the number of continuous hours of sleep. Managing rest and weariness throughout the day is also an important part of supporting brain health.

2. Physical activity – Being busy but sedentary is not the same as being physically active. It is worth considering how much time is spent up and moving compared with sitting.

3. Nutrition – A varied diet based around unprocessed food and drink is vital. Rather than focusing solely on eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, Rachel's preferance is to eat a variety of different herbs, spices, nuts and grains, as well as fruits and vegetables,  over the course of a week.

4. Social engagement – Loneliness can increase fear, stress and pain, while also contributing to cognitive decline. Reaching out and maintaining social connections can sometimes take real effort, but the benefits for the brain and overall wellbeing can be immense.

5. Cognition – The brain benefits from being challenged in different ways. Rather than repeatedly doing the same type of puzzle, such as crosswords or Sudoku, learning a completely new skill can provide a much broader mental challenge by engaging different parts of the brain.

6. Stress – Regularly taking a pause and slowing the breath can help reduce the negative impact that stress can have on the brain. Small moments of calm can make an important difference.

Here to help

Through her work with people experiencing neurological conditions, Rachel takes a whole-body approach to helping clients move more easily and maintain their independence.

This includes supporting people living with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, as well as stroke survivors experiencing difficulties with walking and movement.

The approach goes beyond strength, balance and flexibility. It considers how everyday habits, routines and assumptions can affect the body, while also recognising the individual experience of living with a neurological condition.

For anyone living with a neurological problem that makes walking or movement difficult, Rachel encourages them to reach out to find out how they may be able to help.

You can reach Rachel here:

https://rachelkiliphysiotherapy.com/ or alteratively at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.