How old is too old to work? It used to be easier to answer this question. Prior to 1900, you worked until you could no longer work. The social security act changed things. In 1935, older workers could draw benefits and retire at 65. When I reached the age of 65 and much to my surprise, I was often asked when I was going to retire. I have no plan as retirement is a process that unfolds over many years. Age is not the critical factor in the decision to quit working. The question of being too old to work is not answered based on chronological age. Rather it is answered based on financial resources, desired life style, need for engagement in challenges, and functional (physical and mental) abilities. I had several clients doing well into their 80s and beyond. […]
Memory
We all confront the major myth of brain function which is that our brains work best in our youth. Even as early as middle age (40-69?) we are confronted by changes. Our brain slows as we get older. But we can’t run as fast or hit a ball as far either. The brain becomes more distractible as it ages. We can’t multitask as well and memorization takes more effort. As the brain ages (as early as 40), it has more difficulty with names and nouns. None of these changes compromises competency or the ability to learn. The truth is that the brain not only preserves its youthful skills but also develops new strengths well into middle age and beyond for many. The middle and old aged adult brain can rewire and elaborate itself. The catch phrase for this ability is […]
There are many types of learning and memory. There is associative learning such as that involved in knowing that a red traffic light means stop and a green traffic light means go. There is nonassociative learning where learning and memory interact to allow us to “learn to learn.” The more crossword puzzles we do the better we become at crossword puzzles. There is perceptual learning. I often marvel at how well artists can learn to use space and design to create beautiful images. There is motor learning which allows us to be able to learn to swim or ride a bicycle. There are also many learning styles or types of intelligence. Some are best as visual learners. They need to see in pictures or images. They best learn and remember a new name by seeing it. Some are best as […]
What can I do for my memory? That’s a question that I am asked many times a week. Let’s assume that your memory is not declining. In other words, you have a normal memory. There are two types of exercises you can do to improve your memory. First, you can exercise by doing memory or cognitive training. There are two types of cognitive training. You can do challenging mental activities such as computer mental training programs, do crossword puzzles, memorize phone numbers, play bridge, or learn a new language. You will improve your ability to do any of the tasks that you choose. Your brain needs these types of stimulation and they add joy to your life. However, they do not help you find your car in the parking lot or help you recall your appointments. Cognitive training is also […]
I was on “Sound Off With Sasha” (FGCU radio) and asked how Google influences memory. In order to answer this question, I need to describe some types of memory as memory is not a unified skill but rather a large number of skills and processes. There are four basic types of memory. First, there is sensory memory which registers sound, touch, images, etc. It is very brief and cannot be trained. Second, there is working memory which briefly holds information and constantly decides what will be important and what moves on to longer storage. This is basically multitasking and is closely related to attention and works best when we are doing one thing at a time (our brains do not parallel process very well or driving while texting would not create problems). Third, is short-term memory which is not a […]
Ron Reagan reveals (My Father at 100) that his father was thrown from his horse six months after leaving office during July 1989. He sustained a closed head injury and needed neurosurgery to relieve the pressure in his brain. The surgeons discovered that he already had the neurological changes of Alzheimer’s disease. This raises two interesting issues about memory. First, there is a great deal of debate about whether President Reagan showed signs of Alzheimer’s disease while he was in office. Second, John McCain (aged 71) would have been the oldest elected president of the United States, if elected. First, consider age. Although we don’t have a standard of too old to be president of the United States, there are a number of prejudices about age and competence. Should there be an age for mandatory retirement? Should there be an […]
The first stages of Alzheimer’s disease are marked by decreasing self-determination. As one proceeds through early stages, there is an increasing need for external supports but independent survival is likely. In the later stages, independent survival in the community is no longer possible. The plans and skills learned in the early stages will determine, in part, the smoothness of these stages. The later stages are clearly marked by more than just memory loss. Indeed there are multiple skills lost (e.g., judgment, reasoning, planning, learning new skills or facts). There is often little self-directed engagement. Palliative memory care (e.g., day programs, placement in memory care units) is necessary, as short-term memory is severely impaired to the point that the forgetful person no longer is aware of forgetting. Each repeated question or comment is made for the first time from his or […]
My wife recently treated herself to an I-Phone and MacBook Pro computer. She has extended her memory to the internet allowing her to explore ideas, places, and events. She has access to applications (“apps”) that allow her to calculate, argue, plan, and daydream. She can also use these devices as memory collaborators. She can track as well as have auditory reminders for appointments. She can pay bills, organize her life, and record events (pictures and videos) that we want to remember. She is delighted. Her I-Phone and computer work for her in the words of David Chalmers as an “extended mind.” Smart phones and computers serve as memory collaborators for many individuals as well as organizations. They have replaced paper calendars and people whose job it is to remind those for whom they work. On the one hand, they allow […]
Alzheimer’s disease is a complicated condition that comes on very slowly over the course of many years. The first signs may be quite subtle. The course is irregular with periods of lucid thought interrupted by fluctuations in memory or thinking that are similar to the changes in memory efficiency that happen as a consequence of aging. This makes early detection of those who develop Alzheimer’s quite difficult and gives rise to a number of beliefs that lead to the attitude that there is nothing you can do. “Aging is a disease.” Aging is not a disease state that needs treatment. Many age quite well and have productive fruitful lives into their 90s or even early 100s. Take for example my wife’s 96 year old aunt who still safely drives, lives alone and is still a whiz at playing cards or […]
The New York Times (August 29, 2010) is running a series called “The Vanishing Mind” with the most recent installment titled “Years Latter; No Magic Bullet Against Alzheimer’s.” The article is based on the conclusions reached by a “jury” of 15 medical scientists along with scientists at Duke University with no vested interests in Alzheimer’s research. The National Institutes of Health convened this “court” to objectively evaluate the quality of research findings addressing the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. These studies covered all of the bases: exercise, mental stimulation, healthy diet, social engagement, nutritional supplements, anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs lowering cholesterol, amount of education, being married, and being a loner. Last week’s article reviewed the conclusions of the panel and discussed the issue of standards of scientific proof. This article focuses on the meanings of prevention in medicine. Consider the notion of […]
