Many readers would be a bit surprised to realize the smartphone wasn’t introduced until 2007 or that Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube have all been introduced since 2004. In fact, we’ve seen a veritable explosion in social networking opportunities this past decade – all possible thanks to new technologies, brilliant minds and funding opportunities. Well the same is true of brain and addiction-related research.

Thanks to new imaging technologies, brilliant minds and funding opportunities, neuroscientists and other professionals are now able to study the live human brain in action, over time, as it develops, with mental illness, after addiction craving medications, with head trauma… it’s truly incredible and shattering long-held assumptions about addiction, addiction treatment, how addiction happens to some and not others and why it’s possible to live a fantastic life in recovery.

Nutrition, mindfulness, exercise and sleep can help with treating the brain for addiction and secondhand drinking recovery.

Two of the outcomes of all this 21st century research are the influences on the brain of the brain disease of addiction and of the stress that’s associated with repeated exposure to secondhand drinking (the impacts of a person’s drinking behaviors on others). These influences actually change how the brain works and the overall health of the brain, which is where this post comes in. It’s now understood that nutrition, exercise, mindfulness and sleep all help heal / repair / rewire the brain. So it’s always with great interest that I listen and read stories and information about brain health. One such recent experience was on Monday, January 6, when I was listening to the PBS NewsHour program on Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s Researchers Seek Better Prevention With Early Detection.  At the conclusion of the program, Gwen Ifill added, “You can learn more about Alzheimer’s prevention, including how to eat your way to a healthier brain.  That’s on our Health page.” So that’s exactly where I went.

Given addiction and secondhand drinking recovery is all about restoring brain health, I’d like to share these two articles – even though they are presented in relation to Alzheimer’s Disease. Why? Because brain diseases have something in common – they change brain function and health. Diet, nutrition, exercise and mindfulness also have something in common. They help maintain and/or restore brain function and health.

So, I’m sharing the two articles Gwen Ifill referred to in order to help you or someone you love treat their brains for addiction and secondhand drinking recovery – in some cases – as with nutrition and exercise, for example – the activity helps with brain health regardless the underlying disease, disease potential or lack thereof.

And while these tips are not the be all, end all when it comes to recovering from addiction or secondhand drinking, they are certainly a place to start and/or useful to enhancing the recovery journey you may have chosen or are considering.

But first, in case you are new to this blog or to the concepts of addiction as a brain disease and secondhand drinking, check out these two related posts:

7 Sound Bites to Update 2014 Conversations Around Addiction

Secondhand Drinking Prevention (which applies to Secondhand Drugging, as well)

Tips for Better Brain Health – Important to Treating the Brain for Addiction and Secondhand Drinking Recovery

The first article, 10 Ways to Eat and Drink Your Way to a Better Brain, appeared on the PBS NewsHour website on January 6, 2014. And while it is part of a program on Alzheimer’s Disease, it’s recommendations apply to brain health. Period.

The second article is titled, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy and 8 Other Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer’s,” which also appeared on the PBS NewHour website on January 6, 2014.

Here’s to brain health!

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Lisa Frederiksen

Author | Speaker | Consultant | Founder at BreakingTheCycles.com

Lisa Frederiksen is the author of hundreds of articles and 12 books, including her latest, "10th Anniversary Edition If You Loved Me, You'd Stop! What you really need to know when your loved one drinks too much,” and "Loved One In Treatment? Now What!” She is a national keynote speaker with over 30 years speaking experience, consultant and founder of BreakingTheCycles.com. Lisa has spent the last 19+ years studying and simplifying breakthrough research on the brain, substance use and other mental health disorders, secondhand drinking, toxic stress, trauma/ACEs and related topics.

Latest posts by Lisa Frederiksen (see all)

• Does a Loved One Have to Hit Bottom? - November 20, 2022
• Resources for Parents of Children with Substance Use and Mental Disorders - October 18, 2022
• 4 Things to Support Brain Health and Function for Recovery - August 30, 2022