Human Brain...
The human brain is truly amazing. It can generate enough electricity to light a 25-watt light bulb and has the ability to store as much in-formation as a computer. Our bodies can heal wounds, repair broken bones, and spontaneously recover from disease.
Obviously, as people age they see some inevitable changes in their physical abilities as well in their cognitive skills. Although 5 percent of seniors succumb to some form of senile dementia, another 5 percent reach age 100 with their faculties intact. For those 90 percent in the middle, here are some facts of life worth considering:
Metabolism changes with age
- Our body chemistry and processes do slow down in later life. Not only do we require fewer calories to survive, but our response time to stimuli also slows down.
- For people accustomed to thinking fast and acting immediately it seems as if their memory is impaired. It is not. It just takes a second or two longer to retrieve what you want to remember.
Reaction time slows down
- Physical changes bring about a change in reaction time. A reduction in visual acuity or hearing make the questions harder to understand and so the answers tend to be slower and fuzzier.
- Doing two things at once, such as reading the paper and listening to the radio become more difficult or impossible.
Isolation affects memory
- In later life, the loss of a mate deprives you of companionship and limits communication. Older people living alone remember less than their age mates living with someone.
- With fewer occasions to use it, their memory atrophies and rusts. Younger people who divorce or lose a mate find they must assume all the responsibilities and may actually have to remember more.
Maintain your memory
The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (James H. Silberman Books)
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Can't Remember What I Forgot: The Good News from the Front Lines of Memory Research
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The Woman Who Can't Forget: The Extraordinary Story of Living with the Most Remarkable Memory Known to Science--A Memoir
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The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work, at School, and at Play
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The Alzheimer's Action Plan: The Experts' Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems
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Experience that comes with age is a plus
- An older person, like everyone else, can relate new information to material already mastered.
- The advantage to the older person is that you have so many more experiences to relate to. The number of memories is vast. Life experience also contributes to judgment, which enhances a good memory.
Retirement brings still more changes
- Memory complaints often coincide with retirement. A reduction of motivation from the job and accompanying reduction of activities brings about a drop in mental stimulation. The consequences of forgetting are now minor.
- Instead of doing something today you can easily postpone it for tomorrow. Instead of reading for work-related information, we now read "for pleasure," which is less focused and usually less demanding. Once new, stimulating activities have replaced work, memory rebounds.
Stress and memory
Stress and Memory
Now scientists are finding more about how stress affects our brains, from memory to the ability to make decisions.
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More info about memory and aging
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byNine steps reverse memory loss as you age
Nine steps to reverse dementia and memory loss as you age
Is memory loss an irreversible part of aging? To Dr. Mark Hyman, the answer is a resounding "no!" In this week's UltraWellness Blog, he shares success stories from patients who had been given a terrifying diagnosis -- only to discover that they could actually reverse the problem, with a comprehensive plan that he makes available to you, too. For more, see http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog
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