The right amount of sleep is essential for health at any age, but as we age it becomes crucial, doctors point out. A recent study published in Nature Communications found that people over 60 who sleep less than six hours a night are 30 percent more likely to develop dementia in old age. It found that sleep is extremely important for brain regeneration. People over 60 are recommended to get seven to nine hours of sleep a night.
Don’t abuse alcohol!
Drinking alcohol in excess can endanger your health, whether you are 21 or 81, doctors point out. They warn that in older people, alcohol can also react with medications taken. So to stay healthy, you shouldn’t drink more than one drink or other alcoholic beverage a day, for women, and two, for men.
Don’t isolate yourself from people!
Experts consider social isolation an epidemic, especially among people over 60. Studies show that loneliness can have negative health effects comparable to cigarette smoking. It can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and cancer in the elderly by as much as 50 percent. Doctors point out that this is because socialization keeps the brain active and reduces stress. So do everything you can to avoid being alone: socialize regularly with friends and loved ones, join support groups or become a volunteer, they advise. 
- Neglecting to visit the dentist
Recent studies have shown that in older people, poor oral hygiene can be correlated with conditions such as cancer, heart disease and dementia. For example, a study recently published in The Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine found that the more teeth a person lost, the greater the risk of developing dementia or cognitive decline.
- Lack of physical activity
Experts recommend that adults of all ages devote about 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Regular exercise is especially important after age 60. Not only do they reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity, dementia and other serious conditions, but they also keep you looking healthy and young.
Movement is the cure
The best remedy for many ailments and for not having them happen is movement. It is he who makes it possible for many vital processes to take place in the body and at a good level. Without it, a person’s health declines. Leonardo da Vinci – an Italian painter, architect, mechanic and man of many fields – created the maxim that , “motion is the cause of all life. If it is the cause of life, our health also depends on it, and when it is ailing, movement can also be a cure.
An important issue in enjoying life is being able to move, move and be mobile. For this we need a fit body and well-functioning parts. When we lead a sedentary lifestyle, then many mechanisms cease to perform their functions. One of them is the knee joint. Lack of movement can lead to poor blood supply to its area, as well as insufficient hydration of the articular cartilage, which degrades it. Often, with knee pain, it is the initiation of activity, such as running, that can affect its proper nutrition and regeneration.
Lack of exercise contributes very much to weight gain. A person tires quickly, lacks energy, strength and finds it difficult to perform even the simplest physical work. In such cases, it is systematic physical activity that is the best remedy. It speeds up metabolism and allows to burn fat. With weight loss, the load on the knee and ankle joints is also reduced. Doing general development and strength exercises strengthens muscles, tendons and improves overall fitness. This, in turn, protects against injury and trauma.