Ageing may be inevitable, but staying physically and mentally active is the key to maintaining a youthful brain, says a new study.
“Although some memory functions do tend to decline as we get older, several elderly show well preserved functioning and this is related to a well-preserved, youth-like brain,” says Lars Nyberg of the Umea University in Sweden who led the study.
Education won’t save your brain - PhDs are as likely as high-school dropouts to experience memory loss with old age, says Nyberg, adding don’t count on your job either.
Those with a complex or demanding career may enjoy limited advantage, but those benefits quickly dwindle after retirement, the study said, the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences reports.
Engagement is the secret to success. Those who are socially, mentally and physically stimulated reliably show better cognitive performance with a brain that appears younger than its years, according to an Umea statement.
“There is quite solid evidence that staying physically and mentally active is a way towards brain maintenance,” Nyberg says.
According to the research, this new take on successful ageing represents an important shift in focus for the field. Much attention in the past has gone instead to understanding ways in which the brain copes with or compensates for cognitive decline in ageing.
Elderly people generally do have more trouble remembering meetings or names, Nyberg says. But those memory losses often happen later than many often think, after the age of 60. Older people also continue to accumulate knowledge and to use what they know effectively, often to very old ages, the researcher adds.
Keywords: brain maintenance, youthful brain, memory functions, memory loss, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, cognitive skills, physical fitness, ageing, elderly people
Why is it that only we Indians consider walking an exercise? I have been in Australia for 6 years and have seen only people run on the footpaths. If they are walking, they are not doing it part of their exercise regime. They just walk from one place to another. We Indians have very low standards of fitness. Likewise, why we consider yoga as an exercise? It actually doesn't burn much calories at all. I am not saying yoga should not be performed at all, but if you are trying to get healthy physically, try running and please try weight training especially if you are Indian. Weight training is very beneficial for us Indians more than anyone else. The more muscles you have, the more metabolism of sugar takes places, therefore decreasing
your chances of developing diabetes which is very rampant among Indians.
For below 65 years old, walking is not considered an exercise. I am 22; I run and weigh-train and I never consider walking as an exercise. And I am not athlete.
how to develop short term memory skills because as a shorthand writer
writing at 180 wpm in english, at this age of 58, and preparing for
the govt. exam.of tamilnadu, I need advice from friends preferably in
the same line. What is needed is "how to register the outlines fast in
the brain, record the outlines instantly while chasing the dictator"
The techniques that I learnt through books and my own inventions are
ok upto 150 wpm.Any new idea from any lady or gentleman is quite welcome.
I fully agree. I am turning 70 and have not noticed any appreciable
loss of memory or degrading cognitive functions characterised by
confusion, decreased clarity of thought, and forgetfulness. I enjoy
reading especially of new developments in science and technology and
non-fictions. I am delighted working with PC for up-to-date
learning. I am fortunate to be an adviser to a high technology
process/manufacturing company and thoroughly enjoy investigating
challenging technical problems and many a times find fantastic
solutions after researching through the web. I get lot of thrills
out of busy life possibly helped by avoiding seeing TV which helps
maintaining sane opinions apart from avoiding sickening gaudy
artificial “entertainments” a mental retarding activity. It also
helps to spend quality time discussing socially relevant issues with
friends of equal mental makeup. I am convinced that keeping
mentally active make brain younger with advancing age.
Brilliant photograph. Captures the essence of this article.
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