I don’t let it go to my head. I’m a layperson who lives with the effects of a Chiari I anomaly. I’ve learned how to cope with diminished sensation. I letter so people can read what I’ve written.

Because the anomaly altered my brain, I’ve read about the this important organ and how it works. I want to protect it and keep it functioning as best I can.

My studies lead me to conclude that we can influence five “inputs” that keep our brains healthy. They are: fuel, sleep, oxygen, water and learning.

Fuel – If we eat right, our entire bodies will have a better chance of remaining healthy. Our brains are organs. They, too, benefit from a sound diet.

Feed your brain ... eat a healthy diet.

Sleep – Can you wake up in the morning without help from an alarm clock? Kids who get enough sleep perform better in school than kids who get less sleep. It's the same for adults.

Go to bed and sleep on it ... you might be able to think more clearly in the morning.

Oxygen – Your brain uses one-fourth of all oxygen that you take in. Regular exercise pumps oxygen to every part if the body. Consult your doctor, and especially your physical therapist, to work out a routine that will is helpful to you.

Move ... pump oxygen to your brain.

Water – Each of us has an ocean inside us. We’re mostly water. Cerebro-spinal fluid acts like a hydraulic to cushion our brains from jolts. This fluid also bathes our insides and washes toxins away before they can take residence and harm us.

The chemicals that produce electrical charges work only when dissolved in the water inside our neurons. Our “batteries” need water in order to work properly. It’s easier to think clearly when we’re hydrated!

Drink more water ... wash toxins away ... cushion your brain ... think clearly.

Learning – Healthy brains need “input,” new information, in order to function properly.

If mental activities, such as reading, working crossword puzzles, or listening to classical music come to mind, you’ve got the right idea.

Activities that involve the body qualify, too. Our brains communicate with every part of us and control every action. As we master complex movements (dance steps, for example) our brains make new connections.

We speak of people who “talk” with their hands. I believe that we “think” with our hands, too. Psychologist Carl Jung said, “Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.”

Learn a new skill ... get involved ... feed your brain with learning.