Cognitive Exercises For Seniors Can Make A Huge Difference

By Jessica Morris


Populations in developed countries are steadily growing older. There are now more people over the age of 60 living in the United States than there are people under the age of thirty. Of course, an ever increasing aged population holds many challenges. Social services and the health sector, for example, are increasingly placed under pressure. But the elderly need not be dependent and hopeless. They can still live full lives. With cognitive exercises for seniors they can, in fact, still make significant contributions.

Most older people dread the possibility of contracted conditions that have a severe effect on their cognition abilities. Parkinson disease and Alzheimer, for example, eventually render sufferers totally hopeless and dependent upon others, unable to make decisions or often to even think rationally. These diseases have many causes, but there is much that can be done to prevent.

Regular exercise should be very high on the list of priorities of any elderly person. Low impact exercises and disciplines such as yoga help to increase the ability to concentrate. It also helps to instil a sense of self discipline. Exercise also strengthen the muscles and increases overall body flexibility. Fitter older people are generally more active and motivated and therefore less likely to succumb to debilitating conditions.

There are many activities, hobbies and games that engage the brain in a positive manner. Card games, such as bridge, for example, require a good memory and the ability to devise strategies. Scrabble requires good general knowledge and quick thinking, This list goes on and on. Even smaller societies have clubs for seniors where they can become actively involved in activities that will keep their brains stimulated.

So many people do not realize the incredible power of giving. By becoming involved in community events and charities, older people can keep busy productively and make a real difference in the lives of others. One may think that this does not involve brain activity, but the brain is nevertheless stimulated when one has a purpose in life. Being involved holds many benefits, including social ones that can lead to further personal stimulation and growth.

Many older people stimulate their brains by embarking on entirely new careers after retiring. Some of them enrol in formal study programs, others write and yet others embark upon intellectual pursuits such as consulting, offering tutoring to students and even running small businesses. All these activities stimulate the brain and have the added benefit of making the individual concerned feel useful and productive.

It is also vital to see a doctor regularly, at least twice a year, for a thorough check up. Far too many people are too shy or timid to insist upon certain tests, but it is important to make sure that tests to detect the onset of degenerative conditions are performed regularly. Conditions that are identified at an early stage are much easier to treat and much more likely to be slowed by such treatment.

Nobody can do anything to make one hundred percent sure that debilitating diseases will not develop as one grows old. Other factors, such as genetics, also play a large role. The fact remains, however, that much can be done in the line of prevention.




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