Page 29 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Spring 2022 - Online Magazine

SENIOR RESOURCES
Sustain Your
MeNtal
aCUitY
by Richard Houston
marillo seniors, like all
mature adults, want to
Asustain their memory
function, their mental acuity and
robust health throughout the later
decades of life. Research reveals
that healthy lifestyle habits can add
years to a lifespan and improve
the quality of life in our 60s, 70s,
80s and beyond. Navigating these
decades, however, is not without
risk. The National Institutes of
Health reports that 40-45% of
people over 60 experience some
form of memory impairment. As
memory falters, everyone worries
about further deterioration of
mental faculties.
For years, brain science held that
our brains do not generate new
neuron growth. Adults have about
the same number of neurons in
their brain as they did at birth
– less, in fact - since maturation
involves pruning neural circuits
that are not used. However, recent
discoveries have revealed that
the hippocampus – a seahorse
shaped component of our brain
that plays a critical role in memory
formation and storage – has the
capacity to generate new neurons.
But wait, the news gets better:
we can actually stimulate that
process and promote the process of
neurogenesis.
Former director of the Center
for Disease Control, (CDC), Tom
Frieden, M.D., has said “We know
that … being active is the closest
thing we have to a wonder drug.”
In fact, physical activity is one
way to promote growth of new
neurons in the hippocampus. You
can start today. Get out for a brisk
walk, and your brain will benefit.
Scores of other research projects
document additional benefits to be active falter. All plans encounter
the brain from physical activity. obstacles. Anticipate roadblocks
Harvard Medical School expert and define contingency plans. If
John Ratey, M.D. calls BDNF, a you plan to walk for 15 minutes
brain protein, “MiracleGro for the four times a week, expect that
brain.” Physical activity revs up unexpected issues will obstruct one
production of BDNF as well. or more of your outings.
However, our track record on the So, what’s your backup plan?
‘physical activity’ front does not
impress. The CDC reports that ‘Mature’ adults can improve
more than 60% of Americans do their memory function and
not meet recommended standards support their cognitive acuity
for physical activity. More with regular physical activity. In
problematic, 25% of us don’t have future columns, we will address
any kind of exercise regimen at all. additional activities to keep your
If the benefits of regular physical brain in tip-top shape and to
movement are so compelling, why promote robust health in the later
are so many seniors leaving those years of our lives. In our next
benefits ‘on the table’? column, we will tackle the subject
of resilience and offer readers a
Our own original research free 8-page report, personalized
with 1600 Silicon Valley adults and based on your own individual
reveals powerful psychological responses.
issues at work for people who
are physically inactive. The vast
majority of sedentary seniors have Richard Houston conducted original
no exercise plan. The quality of a research with a sample of 1600 adults
plan is crucial to its success. Folks on the psychological dimensions
beginning a new exercise regimen of healthy lifestyle habits. He is a
need to start small and take very graduate of Brown University, holds
gradual steps in the direction of a Doctorate in Education and was
a rigorous habit – step by small licensed by the Massachusetts Board
step. Lose the plan for a marathon. of Psychology. He has had long
Further, sedentary seniors have a term consulting relationships with
nasty habit of drawing negative several continuing care retirement
conclusions when their attempts to communities.
Amarillo Senior Link 29