The 10 Best States for Your Brain!

Is your state good for the brain?
America's Brain Health Index, a state-by-state measure of the nation's brain health, in 2009 and 2011, evaluated the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia based on 21 factors, including diet, physical health, mental health and social well-being.

Sponsored by The National Center for Creative Aging (NCAA) and life'sDHA, the study's categories included a range of determinants from consumption of DHA-fortified foods, supplements and fish high in DHA, breast-feeding rates and amount of sleep, to smoking rates, Alzheimer's disease prevalence, education state rankings, and religious, spiritual and community involvement.
The index shows how each state and part of the country has progressed - or digressed - in improving brain health over the last two years.


The Top 10 Brain Healthy States:

  1. Maryland

  2. District of Columbia

  3. Washington

  4. Colorado

  5. Vermont

  6. New Hampshire

  7. Oregon

  8. Utah

  9. Maine

  10. New Jersey


Maryland
overtook the District of Columbia for the No. 1 spot since 2009. Alzheimer's disease-related deaths decreased in Maryland, and residents continue to consume a healthy amount of DHA.


The two lowest-ranking states, Louisiana and Mississippi, had high incidences of diabetes or gestational diabetes.


Life'sDHA and the NCCA have launched a national health education campaign, Beautiful Minds: Finding Your Lifelong Potential. The goal is to empower Americans to develop and maintain healthy, beautiful minds by incorporating the four dimensions of brain health - diet and nutrition, physical health, mental health and social well-being.
Click here for more about Beautiful Minds and the American Brain Health Index.


How well are you taking care of your brain?


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