Facts about the brain and how to look after it

What is the brain?


The brainThe brain is a complex organ that is enclosed inside the skull. It controls everything you do with your body from your thoughts, your emotions, and your personality.

The brain is very delicate and is well protected by the skull. It is surrounded by fluid called cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF). This fluid is made in an area inside the brain called the ventricles.

The brain is divided into three main areas: the cerebrum, the brain stem, and the cerebellum.



The brain is connected to the rest of the body via the spine. The spine is a column of vertebra or spinal bones that help us to sit and stand upright. The spinal cord lies within the spinal canal of the vertebral (spinal) column.

The spinal cord is like a motorway with lots of roads (peripheral nerves) coming from it. A few of these roads or nerves extend directly off the brain itself and messages (nerve impulses) travel to and from the brain and along the spinal cord to enable you to see, hear, smell, taste, and balance.

The brain, the spine, and their peripheral nerves make up the nervous system. The diseases and injuries that affect the nervous system are called neurological disorders.

Did you know?


  • The brain makes up nearly 2% of our body weight.

  • Neurons (nerve cells) can vary in size from micrometres to several metres.

  • A human brain has about 100 billion nerve cells (also known as neurons) – that is about the same as the number of stars in the Milky Way.

  • The brain uses a fifth of all the blood pumped by the heart. It thereby uses a fifth of all the oxygen you breathe.

  • The spine has 33 bones altogether- these are divided in to 5 areas; the cervical (neck), thoracic (chest), lumbar (lower back), sacral (at the back of your pelvis) and coccyx (bottom of your spine)

How to look after your brain


The brain is such a vital organ that it is important to do what you can to keep it healthy. Here are some everyday things that you can do to keep your brain in good condition:

Diet – eat a healthy, balanced diet and keep hydrated. Your brain needs the right fuel to keep working effectively.



Sleep – make sure you get enough, but not too much. Lack of sleep can affect your concentration, memory and emotional well-being, while too much sleep can, surprisingly, make you feel tired.



Exercise – this is a big help in keeping the brain healthy, because it increases blood flow to the brain. Exercise can help you to be more alert and improve your mood.



Stimulate the brain – Learning new skills can help keep your brain stimulated, as can mentally challenging hobbies like music or knitting, or puzzles like crosswords and Sudoku.


If you have a neurological condition


If you have a neurological condition, you will be more aware than most people of the importance of your brain. Here are some extra things that you can do for your brain:

  • Medications – if you are taking medication, are you taking too much or not enough? Is the medication working for you and doing what it is supposed to do?

  • Alcohol and drugs – These can both have a serious effect on your brain, but if you are already taking medication then mixing it with other non- prescription drugs or alcohol could potentially make you feel quite unwell.

  • Pace yourself - If you have been ill, the temptation to get back to normal and do everything you used to do can be immense. Nevertheless, do not push yourself too hard – your condition may be “invisible” but your brain is working hard to heal itself, and trying to do everything could make you feel exhausted.

... LOOK AFTER YOUR BRAIN!

Finding out more


Want to know about the brain? Try these pages:


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