Keep Your Mental Edge
Do you think it is inevitable that you should lose your mental
edge as you age? Think again. Research shows that you not only
can maintain your "edge," but that your mental capacity
can even improve with age. Royane Real explains some of the issues
in the article below, and tells you what you need to do - and
not do - to maintain your brain, and your mental edge.
How You Can Keep a Sharp Mind as You Age
By Royane Real
If you're a baby boomer, you may already have noticed some
embarrassing losses of memory. Perhaps you're already worried
that your mental edge is starting to slip. Is this normal? Will
it get worse? And is there anything you can do to stop it?
As we go through life, we all hope we can maintain good physical
and mental health as long as possible. There is not much pleasure
in living a long life if our final years are spent in pain and
if we lose our ability to think and remember. As much as we may
dread suffering physical pain and illness in old age, many of
us fear even more the possibility that we might lose our mental
capacities and end up completely helpless in a nursing home.
Often the first hint that our memory is starting to lose its
sharpness happens around the fifth decade of life. As people
enter their middle years, they start to notice more and more
frequent lapses of memory, particularly their short-term memory.
They may enter a room to do something, and forget what it is.
They may be unable to recall the name of someone who used to
live next door. And they may start to worry that their forgetfulness
is more than just a harmless incident, they worry that it might
be the first hint of something far more sinister—perhaps
the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Alzheimer’s is the name given to a very serious brain
disease in which the brain cells are killed by microscopic plaques
and tangled fibers. The parts of the brain needed to form and
access recent memories are usually destroyed first. Brain cell
destruction spreads to other parts of the brain, causing a loss
of function, and eventually death follows.
At present there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists are racing to learn the cause, or causes of Alzheimer’s,
and to find a way to stop the destruction of the brain once it
starts. As baby boomers age, millions of them will be at risk
for acquiring Alzheimer’s and other serious brain diseases.
Alzheimer’s disease is not the only cause of loss of
brain function in elderly persons. There are many other causes
that can lead to a diminishment of mental capacity or to outright
dementia in later years.
Fortunately, you can learn what the risk factors are which
are associated with a higher likelihood of developing problems,
and you can take steps to counteract them.
And the good news is: you don't need to make a choice between
looking after your heart, or looking after your brain. In many
cases, what's good for the heart will benefit the brain as well.
High blood pressure is a major risk factor in developing dementia.
Not only does high blood pressure damage brain cells directly,
but it also increases the risk of stroke, which will lead to
the permanent destruction of brain cells. To prevent strokes,
have your blood pressure checked regularly, and if your blood
pressure is too high, work with your doctor to bring it down
to a safe level.
Diabetics are at particularly high risk for developing dementia.
If you are diabetic, it is very important to get your blood sugar
levels under control.
If you want to protect your brain for the long term, avoid
excess alcohol consumption. Long term consumption of more than
two alcoholic drinks a day can directly damage brain cells, as
well as deplete the body of important nutrients it requires to
function, particularly Vitamin B1 (thiamin).
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people suffer brain injuries
occur as a result of automobile accidents. Many of these traumas
could be prevented or reduced by slowing down while driving,
and by wearing a seat belt.
We know that some senior citizens are able to live into their
eighties and nineties with their minds sharp and their bodies
still spry. Will we be among the lucky ones? Is it just a matter
of random luck? Is losing our mental powers as we age inevitable?
The good news is that statistically the odds are on your side.
Most people are able to keep their thinking clear as they age
unless they develop Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease,
or diabetes. As long as the brain itself remains healthy, older
people can preserve their ability to learn, to think and remember,
although it may take them longer to process their thoughts than
it used to. And in some forms of mental skills, seniors are actually
able to outperform much younger people!
By studying the health habits of senior citizens who have
reached old age with their minds and bodies intact, scientists
have discovered some of the factors that seem to be associated
with better mental functioning in old age.
Based on these studies, scientists believe that some of the
factors that influence whether or not you stay mentally healthy
in your later years are actually under your control.
There is some evidence that people who have a diet high in
antioxidants have lower rates of getting Alzheimer’s. Fresh
fruits and vegetables, particularly those that have strong, bright
colors, tend to be high in protective antioxidants that help
repair damage to the body's cells caused by harmful chemicals
called free radicals.
People who consume greater levels of cold water fish such
as salmon, tend to have lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease.
There are also vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements that
seem to have a protective effect on the brain. Higher intakes
of Folic acid are associated with a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s
disease.
People who continue learning, who keep on reading, writing,
and acquiring new skills tend to be sharper in their mental skills
as they age. Scientists think that perhaps learning new things
helps brain cells make more connections.
If you want to follow in the footsteps of those who manage
to reach their later years with both their bodies and their minds
in good shape, make it a priority to eat well, exercise regularly,
and get sufficient sleep.
Reduce stress by learning to relax, take pleasure in your
family and friends, and find ways to connect with causes greater
than yourself. Keep learning, and look for ways to be happy,
no matter what your circumstances.
This article is taken from the new downloadable book by Royane
Real titled "How You Can Be Smarter - Use Your Brain to
Learn Faster, Remember Better, and Be More Creative."
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Learn a New Language
In the article above, Royane mentions that scientists think
learning new things helps brain cells make more connections,
thus helping you to keep your mental edge as you age. In the
specific studies that I have read about, it was learning a new
language that seemed to be beneficial.At the moment, my wife
is teaching Spanish to an 85-year-old man who is as mentally
sharp as any of her students.
For more on this, visit the page: How
To Learn A Language.
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