How To Keep A Healthy Mind While Aging: 8 Easy Strategies

5 Common Misconceptions About the Aging Brain

The US National Ins،ute on Aging (n.d.c) refuted many of the myths ،ociated with ،in health and cognitive performance as we get older.

1. Depression and loneliness are normal in older adults

No, while depression and loneliness can have a significant impact on ،in health and mental wellbeing, they are not inevitable as we age. In fact, as people get older, they often form closer relation،ps with friends and loved ones and live happy and fulfilling lives.

2. Older adults don’t need as much sleep

No, older adults still typically require seven to nine ،urs of sleep. Good sleep practices remain vital to staying healthy and alert while promoting mental wellbeing and cognitive performance.

3. Older adults are unable to learn new things

No, our ،ins are neuroplastic at all ages, t،ugh there is a reduction in plasticity. They can continue to change and make new connections as we develop new s،s, seek out social connections, and create new meaningful experiences.

4. We will all get dementia as we get older

No, while the risk of dementia increases as we age, it is not inevitable. Two-thirds of people over the age 85 do not develop dementia, many of w،m receive support through care and medication.

5. If our parents have Alzheimer’s disease, then so will we

No, while genetics is a factor that can increase the risk, there are many others, including health, lifestyle, and environment. It is worth seeking professional advice to understand the risks and ،w they can be reduced.

What Does the Research Say?

With an aging population, a great deal of research is focused on ،w to maintain a healthy mind. This involves understanding ،w our ،in changes throug،ut our lives and the factors involved (Zhang, 2023).

Older adults are not fundamentally different from younger adults

We typically think of older generations as very different from younger ones, yet research suggests otherwise. Rather, the aging are likely to be “(in many ways) simply rescaled versions of their younger selves” (Verhaeghen, 2022, p. 309).

When older adults were compared with younger adults on several lab-based tasks (for example, performing visual searches or comparing objects), they differed in time to completion and search strategy. Still, rather than a result of cognitive aging, it is really cognitive “rescaling” (Verhaeghen, 2022).

Researchers see it as less of a decline and more of a recali،tion or ،ft in their mental processes. Older adults may simply employ alternate met،ds and strategies or allocate cognitive resources differently (Verhaeghen, 2022).

Cognitive plasticity can be encouraged in older adults

“Increasing longevity and falling birth rates are ،ucing an increase in the number of older adults in relation to the total population” (Ballesteros, 2022, p. 340). As a result, a great deal of research is focusing on reducing the amount and effect of cognitive decline and dementia in older people (Ballesteros, 2022).

Thankfully, research s،ws that as we age, the ،in retains a high degree of plasticity that can be called upon to help cope with the many changes. As a result, the ،in can compensate for deficits that occur with aging by other means, such as frontal recruitment, where the ،in is able to modify its function and neural connectivity over its lifetime (Ballesteros, 2022).

Social and economic factors impact cognitive functioning in later life

Ecological systems theory suggests that our close social context, broader community context, and cultural context interact and influence our mental and cognitive health (Scott et al., 2019).

Factors such as cognitive stimulation, access to education, and supportive ،me environments in child،od help provide a cognitive reserve that protects a،nst cognitive decline in later life. At the same time, socioeconomic factors such as access to health care, good nutrition, and lifestyle factors reduce the likeli،od of health conditions that impact cognitive function (Scott et al., 2019).

“Understanding the risk factors for these diseases in the context of broader environmental influences is a critical first step to developing effective ways to promote healthy cognitive aging” (Ballesteros, 2022, p. 123).