In most first world countries, the number of older, retired people is steadily increasing. People live longer nowadays, due to better medical care, healthier life styles and better nutrition, amongst others. As people grow older, their needs change. They need more frequent medical care and a great many elderly people need some form of care. This places a heavy burden on local authorities and even national governments but with brain training for seniors older people can still function independently.
Many older people suffer from a variety of medical conditions. Most of these can be managed, however. It is the debilitating diseases that affect the cognitive abilities that scare many people as they grow older. Diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson have no cure and can render a person total incapable of looking after himself. There is nevertheless much that can be done to prevent these diseases from taking hold.
It is very important for the elderly to remain physically active, to remain fit and to exercise regularly. One may wonder what this has to do with maintaining the cognitive abilities but exercise does help. Exercise increases the flow of oxygen rich blood to all parts of the body, especially the brain. Yoga and Pilates, for example, do not only have fitness benefits but also stimulates the mind and improve concentration.
One of the biggest causes of a deteriorating intellect is inertia. It is of great importance to keep busy. Crossword puzzles, scrabble, card games and other enjoyable activities all force one to think, to concentrate and to memorize certain sequences. This definitely helps to stimulate the mind, especially if there is a healthy sense of competition. As an added benefit, hobbies and games require older people to become more social and to interact with others.
Apathy and a general feeling of worthlessness are great and very powerful enemies of the mind. Everyone can still make a contribution to their own communities. One must have a purpose and goals. Charity work and involvement in community activities are therefore very important, because it gives purpose to life. By focusing on giving, older people will find that they themselves are the ones benefitting most.
Intellectual challenges may be one of the best ways in which to prevent dread degenerative conditions. Many older people keep their intellects sharp by learning new skills, by taking up demanding hobbies and by enrolling for formal training. Retired school teachers, for example, can remain intellectually stimulated by offering help to struggling students. Retirement may just be the time to complete a degree or to finally write that book.
All diseases, even dread ones like Alzheimer, can be kept at bay if it is diagnosed early. Elderly people should therefore make sure that they have regular medical checks and that all appropriate tests are done, even if there are no symptoms. Older people should also take the trouble to learn more about the symptoms that they should look out for.
Nobody, not even the most active person, can be sure that they will not fall victim to a degenerative disease. Genetic factors also play a role and mankind still knows very little about the brain. The fact remains, however, that intellectually active people are less likely to develop these diseases.
Many older people suffer from a variety of medical conditions. Most of these can be managed, however. It is the debilitating diseases that affect the cognitive abilities that scare many people as they grow older. Diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson have no cure and can render a person total incapable of looking after himself. There is nevertheless much that can be done to prevent these diseases from taking hold.
It is very important for the elderly to remain physically active, to remain fit and to exercise regularly. One may wonder what this has to do with maintaining the cognitive abilities but exercise does help. Exercise increases the flow of oxygen rich blood to all parts of the body, especially the brain. Yoga and Pilates, for example, do not only have fitness benefits but also stimulates the mind and improve concentration.
One of the biggest causes of a deteriorating intellect is inertia. It is of great importance to keep busy. Crossword puzzles, scrabble, card games and other enjoyable activities all force one to think, to concentrate and to memorize certain sequences. This definitely helps to stimulate the mind, especially if there is a healthy sense of competition. As an added benefit, hobbies and games require older people to become more social and to interact with others.
Apathy and a general feeling of worthlessness are great and very powerful enemies of the mind. Everyone can still make a contribution to their own communities. One must have a purpose and goals. Charity work and involvement in community activities are therefore very important, because it gives purpose to life. By focusing on giving, older people will find that they themselves are the ones benefitting most.
Intellectual challenges may be one of the best ways in which to prevent dread degenerative conditions. Many older people keep their intellects sharp by learning new skills, by taking up demanding hobbies and by enrolling for formal training. Retired school teachers, for example, can remain intellectually stimulated by offering help to struggling students. Retirement may just be the time to complete a degree or to finally write that book.
All diseases, even dread ones like Alzheimer, can be kept at bay if it is diagnosed early. Elderly people should therefore make sure that they have regular medical checks and that all appropriate tests are done, even if there are no symptoms. Older people should also take the trouble to learn more about the symptoms that they should look out for.
Nobody, not even the most active person, can be sure that they will not fall victim to a degenerative disease. Genetic factors also play a role and mankind still knows very little about the brain. The fact remains, however, that intellectually active people are less likely to develop these diseases.
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