National Institute on Aging outlines things you can do to keep your brain functioning at an optimum level. By Jo Valenti, BSN, RN, Cumberland County Mental Health Advocate
Those of us of a certain age may look back over our life and remember how busy we were—working full-time, raising our children, and life’s activities kept us busy. It was easy to rise to the occasion for any emergency or multitask through the day. Our ability to do it all—to keep all the details in order and keep everything running smoothly—existed because our brain was young and up to the task.
As we age, we begin to realize that our brain fails us from time to time. We walk into a room and must really think hard on why we went there. Sometimes we actually have to walk back to where we were so that the thought returns. “Oh yes, I needed the scissors!” Sometimes it is scary. Sometimes it is just frustrating. “Am I losing it?” “Do I have Alzheimer’s?”
What can we do to keep our brain working optimally? Or is it an inevitable part of aging that we lose brain function?
The NIH website section, National Institute on Aging (NIA) has some very helpful information on how to keep our cognitive function healthy as we become older.
Brain health encompasses how the brain functions in the following areas:
• Cognitive health—how well you think, learn, and remember
• Motor function—how well you make and control movements, including balance
• Emotional function—how well you interpret and respond to emotions
• Tactile function—how well you feel and respond to sensations of touch, including pressure, pain, and temperature
• Sensory function—how well you see, hear, taste, and detect odors
Further, the NIA recommends several actions that can be taken to keep the brain functioning optimally despite advancing age:
• Take care of your physical health
• Manage high blood pressure
• Eat healthy foods
• Be physically active
• Keep your mind engaged
• Stay connected with social activities
• Address physical and mental health problems
• Understand how medicines can affect the brain
Looking back to the year I retired from my full-time work as a director in a large academic medical center in Philadelphia, I clearly remember that younger colleagues cautioned me that I would become bored. Everyone knew I loved my work and I had a lot of success in my career. They could not imagine Jo as a retiree sitting in a rocking chair. Well, neither could I.
The moment I retired, I jumped feet-first into a new exciting world. I served two consecutive three-year terms on the New Jersey State Nurse Association Region Five Board of Directors. It was the opposite of boring. Toward the end of that time, I became more interested in mental health and ended up serving on the Cumberland County Mental Health and Addictions Board. Through that, I continue to serve on the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Mental Health Working Group. I also serve on the Education Committee of the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative.
Each of these experiences has enriched my life, kept me productive, and enlarged my circle of friends and my worldview. I have come to the conclusion that being a lifelong learner is a lot of fun. And, I do believe that all these diverse activities have kept my brain from the stagnation that would have happened if I stayed in that rocking chair. I was already following the other suggestions to stay healthy generally. (Well, I am a nurse!) I am convinced that staying fully engaged and productive in life contributes to my own brain health.
What is the bottom line? The above suggestions from NIA are worth the effort. Try it and see for yourself.
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/brain-health/cognitive-health-and-older-adults
The Cumberland County Mental Health and Addictions Board actively promotes awareness of stigma and the need for public education regarding mental health and addiction. The Board meets monthly, and the public is invited to attend. Refer to the meeting schedule on the Cumberland County website for meeting dates.
The Board is also seeking new members. Interested persons should send a letter of interest and a resume to Melissa Niles, Cumberland County Human Services, 70 W. Broad Street, Bridgeton, NJ 08302 or melissani@cumberlandcountynj.gov
