As I continue to consider strategies to prevent Alzheimer’s, a recent story from BBC News caught my eye. As we all know, keeping your brain active is a key way to stave off Alzheimer’s. A recent study by the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London indicated that continuing to work as long as possible may not only be helpful in this challenging economy, it may also help your brain. While more research is needed, the study showed that for a group of men studied, “each additional year of employment was associated with around a six week later age of onset [of Alzheimer’s].” Of course, whether you choose to work or to retire, making sure your work or hobbies provide ample mental stimulation is essential. I have heard of many people starting second careers to follow their passions or taking classes again at their alma maters. What are some of the ways you keep your brain active at work or in retirement?
I read another interesting article about the cost of care as the Baby Boomers begin to suffer symptoms of memory loss and Alzheimer’s (potentially upwards of $100 billion). An MSN Money article talks about how employers are focusing on their employees’ brain health in addition to their physical health. Just as these companies have started smoking cessation and weight loss programs to keep the cost of care low by keeping customers or employees healthy, they are offering brain training programs, such as Posit Science.
What if your work or insurance does not offer this kind of care? A Marbles brain coach can provide personal assessment of your brain needs and recommend the best strategies for you.
On another note, don’t forget this week’s book signing with Cathryn Ramin. I am just finishing up her book and it is very enjoyable so I am sure her talk will be as well.
~Lindsay
WARNING: I have been told that I am a bit long-winded but I was moved to comment on Lindsay’s recent blog.
I had read the same article regarding the retirement issue and found it very interesting. I have experienced, first hand, the range of effects that retirement can have on an individual’s cognitive functioning within my own family – specifically in three family members.
The first struggled most of his life financially and worked hard physical jobs to support his family. With his body starting to give out on him he decided to retire. In retirement he became very sedentary and his cognitive decline was very apparent within only a few short months.
The second, choose to not retire when she became eligible due to the financial implications for her family – although she desperately wanted to retire. I believe, because she loves her job and performs a wide range of duties, work has kept her young and quite mentally sharp. I also believe, that her being surrounded by younger, vibrant individuals that challenge her everyday, helps her tremendously.
The third, choose to retire early. Upon retirement he has become active in community projects, travels frequently and spends significant time with his kids and grandchildren playing games, exercising, helping them with their homework. There is no question to me that his stimulating lifestyle since his retirement has played an enormous role is his staying mentally sharp. He continues to be active and more importantly challenges himself to try new things, whether that be travelling to a new place, exploring new restaurants or learning new games.
I have also talked to many people who have or are facing the retirement question and there has been a common thread in their fear of retiring – becoming old and simply wasting away because they don’t know what to do with themselves.
That is one of the reasons I am so excited and thrilled to be apart of Marbles – showing people that there are ways to stay sharp and healthy as the years try to get the better of us. I am so thankful that I get to help people who wish to fight back and not let aging defeat them and continue to enjoy a full life with their families and friends. The one thing that challenges me most is getting the word out to people that there is a place like Marbles: The Brain Store to help them fight the fight. One of my main personal goals with my job at Marbles is to bring Marbles or at least the awareness of Marbles, to as many people as I can in order to help as many individuals and families as we can.
One of my favorite moments at Marbles was a few weekends ago when I had two sisters come in the store to talk to me about their father who had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. We talked for quite awhile so I could learn as much as I could about his lifestyle so that I could offer them the right products for him. They were tearing up most of the visit, but they were so appreciative that they had a place like Marbles to go to for help. Once we found some products to help their father, we sat down and talked about ways to help them stave off their own cognitive decline. Their visit was probably about two hours long and ended with hugs! I was so thankful that I am in a position to help people and extremely grateful that Marbles has given me the opportunity to impact peoples lives in a positive way.