A greeting exchanged, a lecture absorbed, a task completed or a new friendship formed – our brains are quietly at work through it all, every day. 

Keeping it healthy is about far more than memory. Our emotions, thinking, movement, sleep and social interactions all reflect how well our mind is functioning. Poor sleep, chronic stress, unhealthy lifestyles and digital overload can all quietly shape our cognitive well-being.

In this episode of Health Talk, Dr. Xu Yun, director of the Department of Neurology at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the affiliated hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, explains the emerging concept of "brain hygiene" – from early changes in memory and mood to the growing challenges facing young adults.

There is no single formula for a healthy mind. But understanding how our daily lives affect it may be the first step toward taking better care of one of the most remarkable parts of who we are.

Executive producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Directors: Chen Hongyu, Zhong Xia, Wang Yuxin and Zong Shukang

Video editor: Wang Yuxin