7. Take the Brain Health Quiz

How Well Are You Taking Care of Your Brain?

You can determine how well you attend to and pamper your brain by answering a few simple questions.  The following 10 questions provide a general picture of your brain health.  After you have finished the quiz, add up the numbers preceding each answer to get your score.  

Average Daily Blood Pressure

1. Normal or low blood pressure (below or around 120/80)
2. Mildly elevated high blood pressure (around 130/85)
3. High blood pressure (around 140/90)
4. Very high blood pressure (above 160/100)

Diabetes

1. No diabetes
2. Diet-controlled diabetes
3. Mild to moderate diabetes, on medications
4. Severe diabetes for more than 10 years, poorly controlled

Diet

1. Eat fruits and vegetables five times a day, with a smart balanced diet of meats, carbohydrates, bread and fish (2-3 servings a week)
2. Eat fruits and vegetables once or twice a day, with a fairly good, balanced diet
3. Occasional fruits and vegetables, no particular attention to diet
4. No fruits and vegetables, fast-food hamburgers more than 2-3 times a week

Brain Stimulation

1. Interested in solving problems, crossword puzzles and sudoku puzzles, playing card games, fixing things around the house, other brain-teasing activities
2. Occasional brain-stimulating activities
3. Do not enjoy solving problems or puzzles of any kind
4. Avoid active thinking as much as possible, let other people figure things out

Stress and Anxiety

1. No stress, feeling happy and in control of life, have a positive attitude
2. Occasional stressful situations, such as dealing with deadlines weekly
3. Frequent stress and anxiety most days of the week, rarely relax
4. Running around all the time, always feeling behind, constantly feeling worried, stressful and anxious

Cholesterol

1. Normal cholesterol profile (LDL <100, HDL >40), controlled with diet and exercise
2. Mildly elevated cholesterol, on medications
3. High cholesterol (total cholesterol >200), on medications, but not under good control yet
4. High cholesterol, not on medications

Weight

1. Thin to normal
2. Mildly overweight
3. Overweight (with abdominal size of >40 inches for men, and >35 inches for women
4. Obese

Smoking

1. Never smoked, or quit more than 10 years ago
2. Quit, with occasional smoking in bars or restaurants
3. Smoke up to one pack per week
4. Smoke one pack per day or more

Leisure Activities

1. Enjoy hobbies (gardening, dancing, movies, day trips, fishing, crochet, etc.), keep busy with them once a week
2. Occasional hobbies, about once or twice per month
3. No regular leisure activities, may travel once or twice a year
4. No hobbies, no leisure activities, watch noneducational programs on TV more than 3-4 hours a day

Exercise

1. Walk or engage in some form of exercise for more than 30-45 minutes, at least four days a week
2. Walk or engage in some form of exercise once or twice a week, for at least 30 minutes each time
3. Do not participate in any regular exercise program, may take a long walk occasionally
4. No exercise ever, sedentary (couch-potato) lifestyle

Your Score

Less than 15: Green zone, keep up the good work.

Between 16 and 30: Yellow zone, need improvement.

Between 31 and 40: Red zone, need major improvements, see your doctor soon