The Importance of Brain Health in Teenagers

As time goes on, we have brought a lot of attention to the importance of mental health in teenagers. From anxiety to depression and other mental illnesses, these issues have been brought to the attention of many, benefiting the way we address these problems and help our teenagers face them. However, there is another aspect of teenage health that we tend to leave out. Brain health is as equally important to care for as the rest of the human body, and with increasing brain diseases, it is important we begin the process of caring for the brain at a young age. 

Brain health is the state of carrying out everyday activities, functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioral, and motor domains (Repaka et. al, 2026). Everything you do, such as exercising, reading, writing, and even involuntary actions depend on the brain. How well you do these things depends on your brain health. As teenagers, our brain is going through a lot of development as we enter adolescence, making it crucial that the brain is shaped properly, as the adult brain and adolescent brain are two different things.

First, we must analyze what a healthy and unhealthy brain looks like. A healthy brain will lead to great physical and mental health, as it is necessary for wellbeing, behavior, learning and communication. An unhealthy brain can be impacted by negative diseases, and can affect our body systems. It can alter a person’s life and cognitive and social function (“What happens”).

Next we must analyze what negatively impacts brain health.Too much sitting is one factor. Too much sitting has been linked to changes in part of the brain that has to do with memory. Make sure you are moving around and getting up if your job or school requires a lot of sitting. Next is a lack of socialization. No socialization can lead to increased anxiety and depression, which in turn affects brain health. Thirdly, inadequate sleep. Memory, problem solving, and reasoning is affected when people don’t get adequate sleep. Lastly is stress. Stress can kill brain cells and affect the prefrontal cortex, which helps with memory and learning (Solan, 2022).

So, how can we improve brain health? First, exercise regularly. Regular exercise increases blood flow to the brain, and can counter the decrease in brain connections caused by aging (Alzheimer’s Association, 2026). Next is better sleep. Sleep helps consolidate memories and clears abnormal proteins in the brain which in turn benefits your brain health. Aim to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Thirdly is a Mediterranean diet. This diet involves eating fish, healthy fats, plant based foods and whole grains. It incorporates less red meat and salt, which in turn helps avoid heart disease, which benefits your brain. Next is social interaction. This is known to decrease depression and stress, which are two factors of memory loss. Look for opportunities to meet new people or to interact with close family and friends (Kidd, 2022). Protect your head: head injuries have been known to cause brain damage as well. Make sure you wear a helmet and seatbelt when necessary (“10 healthy”).

Brain health depends on several factors, and many times we think that it is unimportant. However, it is important to remember that the brain controls every aspect of the body. If the brain is impacted, then every system in our body will be. It is up to us to watch what we consume, and challenge our brain everyday in order to strengthen it.

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Works Cited:

10 healthy habits for your brain. Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). https://www.alz.org/help-support/brain_health/10-healthy-habits-for-your-brain 

Repaka, V., Grewal, G., Shivadevuni, V., & Ferguson, A. (2026, January 6). Register. Register | Berkeley Pharma Tech Journal of Medicine. https://berkeleypharmatechjournalofmedicine.com/index.php/bptjm/user/register 

Sachdev, P. (2024, July 5). Bad habits that can hurt your brain. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/ss/slideshow-bad-brain-habits 

Solan, M. (2022, April 1). The Worst Habits for Your Brain. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/the-worst-habits-for-your-brain 

What happens when brains are not healthy. World Federation of Neurology. (n.d.). https://wfneurology.org/activities/brain-health-initiative/what-makes-your-brain-unhealthy 

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Brain health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/brain-health#tab=tab_1