How to keep minds young as we age
Chances are you know a number of folks over 80 who are completely ‘with it.’ They have stayed sharp as a tack, even as they’ve entered their golden years. Is it mere luck, or do they know something that the rest of us don’t?
Recently, WDIV’s Dr. Frank McGeorge did a report on what researchers call “super agers”…people who are in their 80s or beyond and still have the cognitive abilities of folks 20-40 years younger. Can science tell us WHY these folks keep their brain health?
To a certain degree, yes. A study from Northwestern University found that super agers lose brain volume at a slower pace than adults who are aging normally. This puts super agers at a lower risk for dementia. What are some of the things these folks are doing?
Physical activity is the biggie. A number of studies have shown that regular exercise in middle-aged people reduces the risk for later dementia by 30%. Aerobic exercise (the kind that gets your heart rate up) seems to help your brain by improving blood flow and increasing chemicals that protect the brain. Physical activity also tends to counter some of the natural reduction in brain connections that occurs with aging.
Exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight. The risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease triples for individuals with a body mass index over 30.
But, it’s also important to stay mentally active. Many super agers do daily crossword puzzles and research new subject matters. Reading a book on an unfamiliar topic or taking a class can challenge your brain and keep it healthy. Research finds those with healthy brains also tend to be social butterflies, with a strong circle of family and friends.
You might like this last suggestion a lot…super agers also tend to indulge in a regular glass of alcohol. That Northwestern University study found that moderate drinkers were 23% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. But there’s a catch…MODERATION. Drinking more than the recommended amount can actually increase your risk for Alzheimer’s.
Genetics, of course, play a role in how your brain ages, but numerous studies have found that the above activities, along with eating a healthy diet, can have a positive impact.
from Channel 4 (WDIV) Morning Report, Sunday, Nov. 21 2021