The 2 brain-healthy habits a neurologist swears by — that have nothing to do with supplements or puzzles

The quality of your social interactions matters more than quantity when it comes to your brain health. bernardbodo/Getty Images Dr. Jinsy A. Andrews says emotional health can influence Alzheimer's risk. Quality social interactions boost brain health more than superficial connections, he says. Certain creative hobbies enhance brain activity and reduce stress. A record number of people are living past 100 years . It's also why preserving brain health is more important than ever. Because people are living longer, neurologists estimate over double the cases of dementia by 2050, according to a 2022 Lancet study . Dr. Jinsy A. Andrews, a neurologist at NYU Langone specializing in neuromuscular medicine, told Business Insider that people who follow a typically American lifestyle, which can be more sedentary and involve eating more ultraprocessed foods , may have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.