Through Lifelong Learning and Activity
by
Do you recall the last time you lost your keys? Forgot what you were saying mid-sentence? Couldn’t remember the name of an acquaintance? When older adults notice that these instances of forgetfulness seem to be occurring more frequently, it raises a number of concerns for them. Elders having such experiences start wondering whether they should be worried about what the future holds for them in terms of mental acuity, independence and quality of life.
While many people believe that brainpower can be strengthened, finding ways to do so often takes a backseat to other health issues such as heart disease, cancer and managing medications. The reality is that while external signs of aging, such as wrinkles or weight gain, are visible, there are also internal signs of aging. Organs lose the vitality of youth, and the brain is no exception. However, nourishing and nurturing the brain can help maintain mental acuity. Understand that the brain is the most powerful muscle in the body, and consider that there are many ways to exercise it. Engaging in social and physical activities through a senior center can help -- a lesson we learn every day at the North Shore Senior Center in Northfield, Ill.
Keys to Success
The first modern senior center was developed in 1943 to provide educational and recreational opportunities for older adults. Senior centers proliferated after World War II and received a major boost from the 1965 Older Americans Act. Social interaction was the common denominator that made all these senior centers thrive -- people needed friendships and human contact. Being an active participant in the community offers avenues for stimulating activities that promote brain fitness. Older adults come to senior centers regularly to read, take classes, relax and play challenging games, like bridge, which require concentration. Sometimes a lively conversation is all it takes to mentally stimulate and invigorate a person for the rest of the day.
We know that exercise is good for the body. It prevents falls, staves off diabetes and hypertension and enables the body to rebound more quickly from sickness or injury. Exercise also enhances emotional well-being. Scientific research now tells us that physical activities can nurture the brain. In one study, older adults who walked regularly showed significant improvement in memory skills compared to their sedentary peers. Walking as little as 20 minutes per day improved their concentration and abstract reasoning. Physical exercise influences the rate of creation of new neurons in our brains. The North Shore Senior Center (NSSC) offers exercise equipment and consultations with an exercise physiologist to ensure elders develop fitness plans that are safe and effective.
Creating Opportunities to Learn
Learning engages the brain. At North Shore Senior Center, our calendar is filled with musical performances, lectures and presentations that spotlight subjects ranging from art, literature and history to politics, medicine and science. NSSC also presents courses such as the Brain Fitness Program and Memory Camp offered by Posit Science, a San Francisco-based firm. We are making inroads with innovative offerings like Mind Matters, a weekly group for people with early memory loss that focuses on socialization, stimulation and support. A related NSCC initiative, House of Welcome, provides a day program that helps older adults and their families deal with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
Senior centers across the country -- and NSSC is among them -- are championing the idea that the more we use our brains, the stronger they become. It’s no mystery: A steady diet of social interaction, mental stimulation and physical activity can feed our minds and foster brain health for years to come.
Sandi Johnson is executive director of the North Shore Senior Center in Northfield, Ill.
Copyright © 2008 American Society on Aging; all rights reserved. This article may not be duplicated or distributed in any form without written permission from the publisher: American Society on Aging, 71 Stevenson St., Suite 1450, San Francisco, CA 94105-2938; e-mail: permissions@asaging.org.
