Good News for Aging Brains

In all the history of humankind, there has never been a better time to be old.

Oxford Institute of Population Ageing Global survey of 40,000 people. Many of the views of aging are based on myths.

The Myth of Senility

The Myth of Disability

The Myth of Homogeneity

The Myth of Lonely Isolation

The Myth of Dependency

The Rocking Chair Myth

The Myth of Inability

The Myth of Retirement

http://transgenerational.org/aging/demographics.htm

Older brains are better than younger brains when it comes to: • Stored knowledge • Experience • Problem solving • Social intelligence • Emotional intelligence • Mental and emotional stability • More effective use of both hemispheres of the brain • Pattern detection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fn4tnYonpw

This is Ray Jessel, 84 years old, performing on America’s Got Talent.

In Thailand by 2030 17.7 million people aged 60+ Nearly one third of the population

An aging world is good news because: more research on aging. More research = new and better drugs, new treatments, new insights into the aging process.

Weighs 1.3 – 1.4 kg (about 3 pounds)

160, 000 km of blood vessels; 750-1000 ml/min

Generates enough electricity to power a small light bulb

Uses 20% of the oxygen you breath in

In the Milky Way Galaxy, about 100 billion stars.

In the human brain, 100 billion neurons.

A typical neuron

1 neuron can have 1,000 to 10,000 connections to other neurons for over 100 trillion possible connections

Neurons connect up into ‘circuits’ that do things, just like this electronic circuit for a motion detector. We have motion detector circuits in several areas of the brain. We now know that the brain can make new neurons and is constantly altering the circuits, constantly rewiring itself.

Neuroplasticity Changes in neural pathways and synapses due to changes in behavior, environment, neural processes, thinking, emotions, as well as changes resulting from bodily injury.

Neuroplasticity occurs on a variety of levels, ranging from cellular changes due to learning, to large-scale changes involved in cortical remapping in response to injury. The brain changes throughout life. Right up to the end. This gives us clues about what we can do to maintain or even improve cognitive function as we age.

Countless studies show a strong correlation between physical activity and cognitive function.

Brain training games to exercise

Brain Matrix (free) http://www.brainmetrix.com/

Executive functions

High-level cognitive processes: • working memory • reasoning • task flexibility • problem solving

• planning and execution

Which allow you to:

• quickly process and retain information

• regulate your behaviour

• make good choices

• solve problems

• plan and adjust to changing mental demands

Lumosity (USD 80/yr) www.lumosity.com/

My personal favorite brain training platform.

Shows how I compare to thousands of other people in my age group.

Learn to juggle Older brains can actually grow with the right amount of stimulation. In a study published in 2008, University of Hamburg neuroscientist Janika Boyle tried to teach novice subjects between the ages of 50 and 67 to juggle. While none of them became adept jugglers, scans showed that just like

younger subjects, the older brains developed increased grey matter.

Sing

Young@Heart is an entertainment group created by and for the elderly, comprised at present of people at least 70 years of age. Singing is good for body, spirit and brain. See their movie trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjnfoFg7i7g

mailto:clayton@redplough.com