Have you noticed the media seems to be flooded more with health care information than ever before?

Specifically, now we are seeing interesting new information about how to improve your odds of heading into your golden years with better health.

We all know if we’re lucky we can have plenty of those so called golden years. And if we’re even luckier, we will be able to have decent health during those golden years.

What’s new about all that health care information is that we are being told we can greatly determine how we live those golden years.

We can do it by little changes in our lifestyle.

While Alzheimer’s disease is still the big bad woof that can derail us, to a certain extent what we do now can greatly influence our future.

And if you think there are more articles than ever before about brain heath, you are right.

I have to confess in the past I refused to read or hear about Alzheimer’s. It was all too painful to think about.

My mother died a horrible, prolonged death from Alzheimer’s disease as the mother we loved disappeared, little by little. It was so heartbreaking to witness.

After my mother died I didn’t have the heart to read or hear anything more about the cruel disease. It seemed like once it grabbed a victim we were powerless to change the outcome. That is no longer true.

A while back a friend of mine who is involved in Alzheimer’s research asked if I wanted him to give me a test that could reveal how likely it was that I would get Alzheimer’s

I told him never, never, never. It would ruin my tranquility and would do nothing to change whether or not I will get it.

What we have learned now it that there is plenty we can do to build better brain health.

I never heard much about our helping our brain health until recently when the topic seems to be everywhere.

I like what I’m reading in the credible Food for the Brain Foundation.

I especially appreciate the article about 25 daily habits to reduce dementia risk. It highlights some surprisingly simple ways to build better brain health.

Their top suggestion can be summarized in one word: Move.

Moment matters.

Many of us already are advocates of move, more, move. We know that simple movement can make a difference.

But it’s more than that. The foundation promotes activities such as walking, strength training, dancing, yoga or simply staying active.

It’s more than about weight. Movement can improve blood flow to the brain as well as improve heart health. All that and it also helps memory and cognitive function as we age.

So, move, move, move.

That is now my mantra. I say it when I get up in the morning and when I’m getting tempted to take a nap instead of walking.

It’s amazing how that one little change can also change behavior.

Of all the articles on the Internet about health I also like the article called four things to do before 10 a.m. to avoid dementia.

At first I thought it was just a quick gimmick until I actually tried it. Yet they are such simple things.

Here’s a little summary of the four things to do before 10 a.m. that can change behavior.

1. Get morning light by getting outside early. That early light, we are told, signals that we are up and ready to go. Getting started by moving early in the morning improves your circadian rhythm and cognitive performance, creating long term brain health.

Getting out there early is what I do every day, simply because here in Florida anything past 9 o’clock gets too hot.

2. Drink at least 10 ounces of water first thing in the morning. It helps you stay hydrated, improves blood flow and is said to improve memory.

Can water really make a difference? The expert say absolutely.

Believe it or not that one was hard for me to handle that much water first thing in the morning. My daughters tell me I got in a bad habit of just taking small sips of water all day. I’m definitely going to now stick with better hydration.

3. Plan positive things for your day.

Normally, first thing in the morning I think of what I need to do that day. But I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt to also plan something positive. Or simply something that make us happy;

4. Stay connected.

No, not connected with your cellphone or TV.

Stay connected with people

The authors suggested taking a break from sitting in low light while on your computer or cellphone.

Isn’t that what many of us do? Soon it becomes habit. But not a good habit.

What if you stopped making it the first thing you do every day?

What if you did start your day with a short walk outside.

Do your own research. Learn how little changes in behavior can have such a positive effect.

Like the old song says, little things can mean a lot. Best of all, none of the suggestions are hard to do.

Email Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net