An active lifestyle can keep seniors mentally sharp for years to come.
THE MIND:
By adopting the correct lifestyle, we learn how to maintain cognitivecapacity as long as possible in the senior years.
Thinking about losing your memory and mental clarity can be downright depressing and frightening. It weakens the hopes of the so-called golden years.
While Dementia is more common with advanced age, it is not a normal part of aging that dooms us all to lose our minds if we live long enough.
Some people live well into their nineties with no signs of dementia or age-related memory loss. Not recalling names quickly or slowing down attention span is not uncommon with advanced aging, but not everyone has significant “senior moments.”
Research studies on these super-agers who survive & thrive with thinking abilities intact have discovered that there is much to raise the odds to remain mentally sharp.
While genetic and environmental factors can play a role in mental decline, the human brain is more pliable than once thought.
It is a fact that the brain can build new nerve cells by a process called neurogenesis, and new connections between existing brain cells called neuroplasticity.
Research findings documented by Sharon Bergquist of Emory University Medical School, writes, “Our habits and behaviors at every age can influence our brain’s structure and function.”
Research by Lisa Barrett of North Eastern University Psychology and Harvard Medical School found that super-agers mental agility makes them seem to have young brains.
Several lab studies found that physical and mental activity increases in the brain regions critical for memory & thinking when people work at difficult physical and mental tasks.
These studies show that super-agers brains reveal areas of the cortex linked to learning, language, and memory do not decrease in size but thicken, improving memory & attention span.
Barrett advises to start & stick with the strenuous exercise regimen. Persevere to make time for vital mental tasks that require concentrated, intense effort, like learning a new language, mastering musical instruments, etc. Push yourself physically and mentally, and your brain could reward you down the line with swifter reasoning abilities and quick memory.
Observational studies suggest that the habits most closely associated with brain health are regular exercise and following a Mediterranean-style diet. It is beneficial to stay connected with people through social activities. Above all, maintaining good health keeps the memory healthy.
Practice these habits early in life. It will build up a cognitive reserve. A high cognitive reserve will delay the onset of dementia symptoms, even if it does not ward off the condition.
It is essential to realize that many risk factors that lead to heart diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, also lead to dementia. We should control these issues early by working with Medical Providers before causing damage to the brain.
