While your brain is extremely important, it is also the most neglected organ, as you may overlook your daily habits, which quietly take a toll on your brain health. A few of these, according to experts, are so common that most people do not even notice them, but over time, they can lower your cognitive strength and lead to mental decline. Dr Jamey Maniscalo, a US-based neuroscientist, has chalked out important habits you need to get rid of. Here are the top five under-the-radar habits that could be harming your brain health. Not sleeping timely Sleep is very important not just for your physical health but for your mental health as well. "Sleep isn't just rest. It's a highly active process during which your brain performs critical housekeeping, emotional processing, and memory consolidation," Maniscalco told Eating Well. According to experts, chronic sleep deprivation raises the risk of Alzheimer's disease as it disrupts your brain's ability to clear out beta-amyloid, a toxic protein that builds up in the brains of people with this cognitive condition. To protect your brain health, you must have regulated and uninterrupted sleep for seven to eight hours daily. Smoking "Smoking isn't just damaging to the heart and lungs; it can also have serious, often overlooked consequences for brain health," says Maniscalco. Smoke from cigarettes contains many harmful chemicals, most of which cross the blood-brain barrier and contribute to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in brain tissue. They then accelerate the breakdown of neurons and their supporting structures, leading to measurable changes in your brain's structure and function, causing diseases like dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Drinking alcohol Alcohol, even in small amounts, can completely destroy your brain's health and structure. It leads to reduced brain volume, loss of gray matter, and even damage to white matter, impairing communication within the brain. According to doctors, alcohol suppresses the central nervous system, slowing down brain activity by dampening communication between neurons. Eating an unhealthy diet Eating processed and unhealthy foods not just affects your body composition but also directly impacts your ability to regulate your mood, memory, focus, and even emotional resilience. Experts say eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods helps your brain function in a better manner, and so, consume more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fish, promoting greater brain volume and protecting against cognitive decline. Too much social media While you may take it as a harmless entertainment or a convenient way to stay connected, social media can completely alter your brain and the way it functions. According to Dr Maniscalco, most of the social media apps trigger and exploit your brain's dopamine system, causing negative consequences for your brain health. It causes less gray matter in brain regions related to decision-making, self-control, and reward processing. Too much social media also affects your emotional well-being, causing anxiety, depression, and loneliness.