In this article from The New York Times, it was found that Alzheimer’s, which affects around 1/8 of adults over the age of 65, is considered one of the scariest diseases in the U.S. The number of the affected is rising, but there are few treatments and they only slow it down, but do not cure the disease. However, doctors are now more hopeful, after discovering that older brains actually can produce new nerves, as opposed to the long-standing belief that people are born with as many nerve cells as they’ll ever have. So the question is, are there really things people can do to help their brain make new nerve cells?
Studies have shown that older people that retain their mental alertness usually have active social lives and connections. Also, they tend to engage in intellectually stimulating or challenging activities. Furthermore, a research team studied the effects of aerobic versus anaerobic exercise on cognitive functioning. Their findings indicated that after six months, the 60-70 year olds had improved their memory, decision-making ability and attention/focus by 15-20%. Other studies have shown that just staying cognitively active by learning new things, traveling, and reading can help keep the brain healthy. Some things experts suggest include learning a new language, picking up a hobby like painting or playing an instrument, and volunteering in the community. Furthermore, doctors say that a person’s diet should be well-balanced, along with their attitude, which can have a surprising effect. Being able to handle stress is a big part of staying healthy in all ways, not just cognitively.
This article is interesting because it shows the ways that small changes can have a large impact on brain functioning and health. I wonder, f every American knew how these little things could help prevent scary diseases like Alzheimer’s, would they actually make an effort to maintain their cognitive functioning?
I think they would. Like the article states, simulating the mind by learning new things and challenging yourself, along with a good diet and exercise habits can be beneficial at any age, especially as you get older. I think if more people realized how easy it is to make these small changes, more people would be doing them and there would be less people affected by diseases such as Alzheimer's.
ReplyDelete