This week, we’ve had an intern in the office with us, Natasha, a 19 year old Law student with some serious skills (and a great work ethic). I asked Natasha to think of something that would be relevant for the audience of Right at Home Solent. She came up with the following. Well done Natasha!
Most adults dread the idea of aging for a number of reasons. Memory loss, that sharp mind slowing down, and sluggish hand-eye coordination; all concerns which are often associated with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. But what if we told you the notion that old dogs can’t learn new tricks is simply a myth?
According to a research carried out by Pennsylvania State University, adults who were aged 65 and over, who showed no signs of cognitive impairment, were divided into four groups. Three groups each received a different type training (memory, reasoning or speed of procession training), whilst the fourth group acted as a control group and received no specific instruction. Those taking part in memory training were taught mnemonic strategies to remember lists, visualizing and organizing skills. The reasoning training group learnt how to spot patterns in series. Finally, the processing speed training included practice in identifying objects on a screen after shortening lengths of exposure time.
The aim of this research was to observe the impact on the ability of the participants’ ability to perform mundane tasks.
Results and Findings
Appraisals took place over the space of five years, in order to assess whether the training was of any use. According to the study 87% of speed trainees, 74% of reasoning trainees and 26% of memory trainees all showed major improvement, which continued to persist over the following five years. The people with the best improvement were the subgroups of trainees who had ‘booster sessions’, after the first and third year.
The findings included the idea that simple mental exercises may play a crucial part in fighting against dementia and other cognitive declines.
What should you be doing?
The mind needs to be frequently stretched and challenged, meaning that if crosswords or Sudoku is part of your daily or weekly routine, opt for something slightly harder.
This encompasses a variety of activities, such as:
- Playing an instrument
- Mental math
- Cooking new cuisines with different herbs and spices
- Learn a foreign language (linked to reduced risk for cognitive decline)
- Using motor-skills (knitting, drawing, painting)
- Solving puzzles
- Sports like yoga, golf or tennis (prevents heart disease)
In order to fully challenge yourself, practice things you normally wouldn’t practice and attempt activities you don’t enjoy as much. Some unusual suggestions would be to drive home via a different route or even try brushing your teeth using your non-dominant hand.
If your loved one is one of the 850,000 people living with Dementia in the UK, why not try incorporating some of the above in your routine with them. As always, if you want any further guidance or support, please feel free to get in touch with one of the team on 01329 233755 or email us here.
I’ll be spending the rest of the week trying to convince Natasha to stay for longer…
