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They're Not Their
Father's 70 Year Olds!
By
Joan Wright |
 Norwell
- Reading the headline: “70-Year- Olds Smarter Than They
Used To Be,” reminds me of Mark Twain’s muse that he
couldn’t understand how smart his father got from the time
Mark was 14 to the time Mark was 21. This particular
headline referred to a Swedish study providing data on
cognitive symptoms used to predict the development of
dementia. Results of a battery of tests taken over a period
of years showed that what worked well with an earlier group
of 70 year-olds born in the early 1900s in identifying those
at risk of developing dementia, could not offer any clues
for the present group of 70 yr-olds born in 1930. The study
suggests that today’s 70 year-old is a more “learned”
person.
Intelligence has little bearing on the development of
dementia; it is non-discriminating in affecting people at
all intelligence levels. But, “intellectual activity” such
as learning, may make just the difference. Much research has
been done on “cognitive reserves” and creating new pathways
in the brain to “take over” when other pathways have been
damaged by strokes, aneurysms and dementia. This research is
vital considering the fact that beginning January 1, 2011;
the baby boomers will turn 65 at the rate of one every eight
seconds. This translates into more than four million people
each year facing an increased risk of developing dementia
such as Alzheimer’s.
So how do we develop those cognitive reserves? One way is to
keep physically well. The famous “Nun’s Study” that followed
700 nuns over more than 20 years supported just that by
uncovering the link between strokes and heart attacks and
Alzheimer’s and dementia. It also found that stimulating
intellectual activity can provide protection from many types
of cognitive decline.
Likewise, the Columbia University study by Dr Yaakov Stern,
the Bronx Aging Study by Dr. Joe Verghese, and the Rush
University Medical Center study by Dr David Bennet all
support the theory that stimulating activities can reduce
the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. And the work by Lynn
Serper, EdD further illustrates the point. Cognitive reserve
is not something you’re born with but rather develop through
life, starting as a child. Education, occupation and social
activity all add to the reserve; with more extensive
education and more challenging jobs offering greater
benefits.
Is it too late to develop one’s cognitive reserve when
you’re middle aged or older? Absolutely not! It’s as simple
as “use it or lose it.” When using your brain in unusual
ways, blood flows into different neural regions and new
connections are formed. Dr. Stern refers to this as building
the brain’s “software” instead of its “hardware.”* So, using
your non-dominant hand for brushing your teeth or hair,
taking up ballroom dancing, learning a foreign language or
how to play chess and how to play a musical instrument all
tap into those different neural regions of your brain, and
thus contributes to your cognitive reserve. Being more
social and making connections with people (as opposed to
watching television) is also extremely beneficial. And
again, remaining physically active and eating well helps
prevent heart disease, circulation problems, diabetes and
other health issues that in turn can lead to compromising
the brain.
Perhaps a less “easy” change to incorporate in our lives is
reducing stress and anxiety. Yet they factor heavily in
cognitive decline. Taking a yoga class not only helps with
stress reduction, but creates another social venue, and
offers a new learning experience. And no, you don’t need to
be able to get “pretzel-like” to do yoga! There are many
chair yoga, gentle yoga, and beginner yoga programs out
there. Learning meditation, incorporating breathing
exercises into one’s daily routine, and adapting daily walks
to include both of these practices, is extremely beneficial.
Statistics and predictions about Alzheimer’s and its victims
are overwhelming and science has yet to uncover a cure. But
we do have the power to create our own cognitive reserve to
help in the fight.
References and Resources
“Fight Alzheimer’s with an active brain”, Associated Press,
msnbc.com, 6/20/2005
“Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the
Elderly”, New England Journal of Medicine, 6/19/ 2003
www.serpermethod.com
www.rush.edu/rumc |
About The Author
Joan Wright,
CMC, a certified geriatric care manager, is a member of
Norwell VNA and Hospice’s Alzheimer’s Care Specialty Team
and geriatric care management team. She co-facilitates NVNA
and Hospice’s support groups for caregivers of early, mid
and late stage Alzheimer’s. For more information on NVNA and
Hospice and all of its programs, you may call (781)659-2342
or visit the agency’s web site at www.nvna.org.
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