Grey matters: The aging brain

[CBC News]

Memory loss. It's right up there with other signs of aging, such as wrinkles, hearing loss, and bifocals. While you might dismiss it as a "senior's moment," your brain has actually been going downhill since your early 30s.

Our brains are naturally "rusting on the inside," as one expert puts it, but you can slow the process. You can eat for brain longevity and actually exercise this important organ.
Generally, brain aging is believed to be the gradual deterioration of the brain and its related systems.
And with one in five Canadians reaching the age of 65 by 2026, health-care and research priorities areshifting to cope with the unique concerns of the aged population.

Flexing your mental muscles
Mental exercise may be one of the most important factors in how sharp we remain as we age. Keeping our minds challenged and engaged, particularly across the range of cognitive function, can slow the loss of synaptic connections associated with natural aging.
Full Story
What are you doing to keep your brain in shape?


More...

 

[karrie]

This forum is part of my endeavor to keep my brain constantly learning.

Alzheimer's runs fairly heavily in my family. Add to that the brain fog I started experiencing so drastically with fibromyaliga, and it makes for a general concern as to my cognitive ability.

My whole family tries to make sure they are always doing some learning. Reading, puzzles, taking courses here and there.

 

[Twila]

Karrie, I watched a special on Alzsheimer's a few months ago. Science had a major break through in regards to it and treatment for it. They said it's a type of diabetes. Insulin in the brain is lacking. With clinical testing of a certain type of insulin the effects were completely erased! They're now working for FDA approval.

 

[karrie]

science is such a neat thing.