| How often do you have a thought and, before you | | | | As a part of this activity, they learned new lyrics, read |
| know it, it's gone? Do you enter a room to get | | | | music and socialized with each other. Compared to a |
| something and, all of a sudden, realize you are standing | | | | control group of people who did not participate in this |
| there looking for who-knows-what? Sometimes I have | | | | communal activity, the singing group required less |
| to go back to where I started to remember what I | | | | medication, was less depressed, experienced fewer |
| was looking for. Do you find yourself forgetting where | | | | falls and felt more fulfilled and engaged. Based on their |
| you put your house or car keys? This always seems | | | | comments, this experience also seemed to improve |
| to happen when you're in a hurry to go somewhere. | | | | the quality of their overall health and morale. |
| The stress of the situation can block memory even | | | | What interested me the most in reading about |
| more. These temporary memory challenges are not | | | | memory challenges in retirement was that new |
| unusual as we age. However, there is no research | | | | research has identified factors in brain aging. These |
| that indicates that these lapses will eventually progress | | | | studies indicate that the rate of change may be |
| to dementia. | | | | hastened or slowed by lifestyle factors such as blood |
| Research on Cognition | | | | pressure levels, blood sugar levels, weight, and the |
| Due to medical research and advancements in health | | | | extent that we keep our minds agile by learning new |
| care, men and women are now living an average of | | | | and different activities and skills. Growth in cognition |
| 75 years, which is up from 47 years in 1900. Brain | | | | has been found to broaden synapse connections |
| research is on the rise, especially in the last 10 years, | | | | between neurons, making already-established cognition |
| because of the increase in our lifespans. Part of this | | | | patterns stronger. |
| movement to study the brain, how it functions and | | | | Ways To Continue To Use It So We Won't Lose It |
| how it keeps its plasticity viable is driven by the large | | | | Our generation has been one of boundless energy, |
| number of baby boomers. Even with the downturn in | | | | advanced education, and high expectations throughout |
| the economy, 78 million baby boomers began the | | | | our lives. As a group, we want and expect a high |
| exodus from their current careers into retirement | | | | quality of life all the way through retirement until death. |
| several years ago. Still others of us are not ready to | | | | However, to make sure this becomes a reality, we all |
| stop working yet, so we are considering other options. | | | | need to keep our minds sharp by continuing to learn |
| As boomers look for retirement careers, some worry | | | | new things, staying engaged with others and trying |
| that they won't be able to keep up with younger | | | | different activities. There are certain behaviors that we |
| employees and others may not even try. Many | | | | all need to adopt to accomplish this quality of life in |
| boomers may slip into complacency blaming their | | | | retirement. It's never too late so here are some |
| memory challenges on age. | | | | suggestions that have come out of recent brain |
| New research, reported in the USC Health Magazine | | | | research: |
| cover story by Monika Guttman, involves the use of | | | | 1. Make sure you exercise at least 4 to 5 times a |
| MRI and PET scans along with other neuroscience | | | | week. |
| technology. This research has revealed that plaque | | | | 2. Eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits and grains. |
| and tangles, considered in the past to be the cause of | | | | 3. Learn new activities and take your current skills and |
| different forms of dementia, may not be the cause | | | | activities to a higher level in order to challenge your |
| after all. Another study in the Journal of | | | | cognition. Exercise both sides of your brain. |
| Neurophysiology examined the brains of the elderly | | | | 4. Get eight hours of sleep each night as often as |
| that were functioning well until death. They were found | | | | possible. |
| to have large amounts of plaque and tangles but | | | | 5. Manage hypertension because it tends to speed |
| showed no signs of Alzheimer's symptoms. New | | | | normal brain shrinkage and loss of mental ability. You |
| research suggests that Alzheimer's may be more | | | | can help manage hypertension through regular |
| connected to an inflammatory process. This process | | | | exercise and by regularly taking your recommended |
| seems to be caused by chemical changes in the brain | | | | medication. |
| such as a decrease of dopamine, which is a brain | | | | 6. Manage your stress level to reduce a chemical in |
| chemical associated with pleasure and reward. These | | | | the body called cortisol. In small amounts, cortisol can |
| chemical processes slow metabolism in regions of the | | | | actually improve cognition but large amounts wear |
| brain associated with cognition. Most symptoms occur | | | | away the neurons in the brain. Keep your stress under |
| at different paces for all of us, and it is said that | | | | control to alleviate the long-term problems created by |
| genetics also plays a key role in the way our brain | | | | too much cortisol. Stress can be reduced through |
| ages. | | | | meditation, exercise and building a strong support |
| Recently, a report by US News and World Report | | | | system around you for healthy aging. |
| observed a number of seniors between the ages of | | | | Stay engaged and be physically and mentally active, |
| 66 and 103. These mature adults gathered together as | | | | and you will be making the best of your life for the rest |
| a group on a regular basis to sing and perform in public. | | | | of your life. |