And I thought I had a few more years in which to rely in my wits, numerical agility, and quick recall. Turns out that I may have to depend on my foreign accent and good looks alone. A just released study in the British Journal of Medicine concludes that the brain’s capacity for memory, reasoning and comprehension skills (cognitive function) can start to deteriorate from age 45 – in contrast to the widely held view that cognitive decline begins around the age of 60. (I’m 68.)
In said study, researchers from France and the UK observed 7,400 men and women over 10 years. The found that cognitive scores declined in all categories — memory, reasoning, verbal fluency — except vocabulary and there was faster decline in older people. Their findings emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle (diet, exercise) and risk reduction for heart disease (obesity, blood pressure, cholesterol) as safeguards against dementia in later life.
So here’s what I’m going to do (or have already done √):
Join a weekly running group to train for the 10K in April
Register for on-line degree courses in gerontology √
Continue once-a-week workouts with a personal trainer √
Eat only the finest cheeses and chocolates (quality over quantity) √
Engage in coition contrary to what’s ‘normal’ for someone my age
Keep at least two books going at any given time √
Sleep in frequently √
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Having gone through foggy brain in my late 40’s as a part of menopause, this doesn’t exactly surprise me. For me I find learning and trying new things, including challenging work, helps me feel the synapses are firing or at least waking up. I’ve started back to weekly dance which gets the blood flowing, maintain my blog writing, starting new writing endeavors. And I’m on the way to checking off item #5 on your list on a regular basis.
Luke: All right, I’ll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try.
source: Star Wars V – The empire strikes back (1980)
Having gone through foggy brain in my late 40’s as a part of menopause, this doesn’t exactly surprise me. For me I find learning and trying new things, including challenging work, helps me feel the synapses are firing or at least waking up. I’ve started back to weekly dance which gets the blood flowing, maintain my blog writing, starting new writing endeavors. And I’m on the way to checking off item #5 on your list on a regular basis.
Luke: All right, I’ll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try.
source: Star Wars V – The empire strikes back (1980)
“Eat only the finest cheeses and chocolates”. Sounds good to me. I guess biking more might be good too …
I’m planning to do all three — simultaneously.
“Eat only the finest cheeses and chocolates”. Sounds good to me. I guess biking more might be good too …
I’m planning to do all three — simultaneously.