Have you ever had the experience of talking to someone and suddenly stopping in the middle of a sentence because the word you want to use simply isn’t there? It’s not a strange word that you never use but an everyday word like “shovel” or “delicious.” We laugh and call these brief memory lapses “senior moments.” It’s funny if you’re 35 but, after 60, you can begin to wonder if each missed noun or adjective is a signal for something more serious.
Growing older is inevitable, but there are things that we can do to keep our minds sharp as we age.
Work is Good for You
Like the body, the brain needs regular exercise to stay fit. Research reported in The New York Times in 2010 shows that postponing retirement is actually better for your brain. Data gathered from the United States and a dozen developed nations across Europe shows that the earlier people retire, the more quickly their memories decline. Regular, challenging work seems to be one of the best ways of combating this “mental retirement.” The study showed that retired people, as a group, tend to do less well on cognitive and memory tests than people of similar age who are still working.
The study points out that work – with its structure, socialization, deadlines and creative challenges – is better than, say, doing crossword puzzles or Sudoku. Those mental challenges are good, but doing more crossword puzzles simply gets you better at doing crossword puzzles. Any narrow task gets you better at that narrow task, but not at the broad range of cognitive life behaviors that work provides.
If you do retire, find a part-time job, or volunteer with a program that you find challenging, keep a regular schedule, interact with others and stay engaged.
Get Out and Get Moving
Another way of keeping the brain sharp is keeping the body fit. Physical activity gets your entire system working as it was meant to work, making for a stronger, faster and more agile brain. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, physical movement stimulates the growth of new brain cells. Any activity can do you good – gardening, a walk with a friend, recreational sports, even a trip to the zoo. If you enjoy it, you’ll be more likely to do it consistently. If you choose an activity you don’t really enjoy, you will probably find it difficult to stay with the program. It also helps to find at least one other person to join you. Sharing an activity can make all the difference when it comes to motivation.
Stay Socially Active
Sitting around alone at home is one of the worst things you can do for your mind. If you’re not working, you need to find a replacement for the regular social interaction that the work environment previously provided. Recent studies have shown that the adult brain is continually modified by experience.
One of the best ways of keeping the brain developing is through social interaction – meeting new people, visiting old friends or volunteering to work with kids. Try a new restaurant with a friend, take a class, visit a museum or attend a play. Any new knowledge, any new experience is good for keeping the brain sharp and fresh.
Avoid Stress
Stress is a normal part of life. It can’t always be avoided. You can, however, learn to avoid situations that tend to cause it. You can also learn how to better respond to it. Learning how to better manage your time, for example, can be a way of reducing the stress of constantly being behind in the things you are doing. Getting enough sleep makes you more alert, resilient and better able to handle problems that come your way.
Stress has been linked to a number of major health concerns such as the inability to lose weight, decreased mental and physical energy, and increased anxiety.
Managing stress and finding a balance in your life between things like work, physical activity and social needs can be difficult. But when it comes to keeping a healthy mind as you age, any one of these tips can help. Together, they can play an important role in keeping you mentally healthy for years to come – despite those occasional “senior moments.” QCBN
By Bob Ryan