Stress and Alzheimer’s – Not a Good Combo – Smilecast 93
Stress and Alzheimer’s – Stress Can Accelerate Symptoms
Stress-induced hormones produced by the brain can increase an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and accelerate the development of Alzheimer’s in individuals already suffering from the disease.
When the brain is stressed, it produces steroids that can inhibit general brain activity. One such steroids is allopregnanolon. Mice with elevated levels of the steroid experienced impaired memory and learning in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s development. So pay attention to the relationship between stress and Alzheimer’s.
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Aging and Fun – Yes They Go Together
Aging and Fun: Why You Don’t Have To Give Up Everything You Love
When you get old, things you usually do may no longer be the same. For some, getting old means losing a lot of things, especially those you love the most. It may be a hobby or a passion to do something that makes you happy and fulfilled. However, do we really have to give up our passion because of something like old age? Aging and fun can be related, given the right effort. Below are some reasons why you don’t have to give up everything you love as you grow older
Aging is only a phase in life
Aging is a natural part of life. Our minds and bodies experience change as we mature, and our habits and passions change and evolve as we mature. We should treat the things we love as things that are capable of evolving with us, and the state of things we love now isn’t permanent.
- Remember, just as how aging is a phase in life, our mindset makes up a big part of how we see our life. If we start looking at what we can do with our time and not what we’re missing out on, then perhaps aging can be fun.
- For instance, older age may pose more care on your part in terms of your physical, emotional, and mental health. Proper adjustments to your routine, however, can free up time to do the things you love.
- The same mindset above can applied towards your surroundings. Start developing a more positive outlook that the things around you can help improve your love for whatever passion you have.
- The concepts seem vague at first, but when we apply these mindsets with a more creative spin, we might just find a way to not give up everything we love
There’ll always be a solution to everything
Growing older is typically associated with the thought that we can’t do anything because we’re old.
- While we age, it’s natural that we become more careful with our surroundings. There are more restrictions to food, places, and activities we can do depending on medication and other situations. Just because there are limitations, however, doesn’t mean we have to give up on everything.
- Taking note of these limitations is important in setting us up for more things to love in the future. If you love to dance, for example, and find it difficult to do so because of age, you may not necessarily have to give up on dance entirely. If hip-hop was your thing before, maybe it’s time for you to evolve and take up something slower like ballroom dancing, instead. It’s not as intense as hip-hop at first glance, but it’s an entirely different dimension of dance that can peak your interest.
- Prepare yourself for instances where you have to make do with what you have, and take “making do” with a creative spin.
Make use of creativity, innovation, and motivation
If you fear that someday you’ll not be able to do your much-loved activities because of old age, you’re wrong.
- We keep on talking about things like creativity, but with whatever passion you have, you surely know that there’s always a creative way to express your love for the craft. This spark won’t be lost despite old age, unless you give up on yourself entirely.
- Remember, compromise is important, and we can achieve it best if we understand what we are capable of. Think of your limitations not as setbacks, but as challenges that will help you find more love for your craft. For example, if you’re afraid you won’t be able to paint because of old age, try to switch up your painting style. If you’re the detailed painter, try pointillism or finger painting – those are entirely new dimensions of painting that can give a new spin to your interests.
- What matters is you feel fulfilled with what you do. Perhaps your feeling of “giving up” has something to do with you losing that “spark” that you had when you were young, and you may be blaming aging for that. Try to think of ways to rekindle your love for your craft, or if you think it’s lost, try to find a new hobby to learn.
It’s okay to seek help
If you think you’re having a hard time reconciling the things you have to do and take note of because of your age, and making sure your love for your hobby stays, and you don’t have to deal with that by yourself. It’s okay to seek professional help, because therapy can help bring back that “spark,” or a support group can help you discover a new hobby.
- Psychiatrists are trained and equipped with the skill set to help you achieve your goals, and they might be able to help you rekindle your love for your passion despite your old age. Try to find a psychiatrist of a specialization that fits your needs, and try a consultation.
- If therapy is not your thing, try to find a support group within the hobby you like. It can be helpful if you get to share your sentiments with people in the same interest, as they may also have creative insights that could help you.
In reality, dealing with aging is no fun at all. You may even experience a decline in your physical and mental abilities. But as long as you’re confident for all that’s happening in your life, you’ll still end up content. Try to take advantage of your aging process by making every moment extra fun and joyful. By doing so, there’ll be no more reason why you have to give up everything you love when getting old. Aging and fun will go together! Did you enjoy this Members Own article?
Jessica Wilson wrote this article about Aging and Fun.
Jessica is a professional health expert who works for some major health industry giants. She currently writes for Members Own and is dedicated to helping people learn more about health related topics along the journey. When she’s not a health advocate, she enjoys some down time traveling or talking with family.
Cognitively Stimulating Activities That Benefit Brain Health
Cognitively Stimulating Activities That Benefit Brain Health
The Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH) experts met last spring to define cognitively stimulating activities as exercises that challenge a person’s ability to think. The GCBH came to consensus that stimulating your brain through various intellectual activities (e.g. practicing yoga, taking a photography class, gardening, learning a new language, volunteering, etc.) provides benefits for adults’ brain health and can impact how well your brain functions. A new report outlined 9 recommendations to incorporate these activities which maintain brain health and help with daily living. These recommendations offer a variety of ways for people to challenge their brains at any age.
The report recommends that people begin incorporating cognitively stimulating activities into their lifestyle as soon as possible. If you are already participating in them, try adding a few new ones to your schedule, increasing the level of difficulty, or participating in active or group activities; physical activity and social engagement provide added benefits to brain health. The report discusses numerous aspects of cognitively stimulating activities, including cognitive training, education, computer based training, commercial “brain games”, and non-invasive brain stimulation. It also identifies knowledge gaps of what science knows and what we don’t know. For example, the evidence today regarding the benefits of what most people consider “brain games” is weak to non-existent.
To complement the GCBH’s report, AARP surveyed close to 3,000 adults age 40 and older to understand the factors that influence how people engage in cognitive activities and how these issues relate to people’s brain health and mental well-being as they age. Survey results can be found in the section below.
As a result of these deliberations, the GCBH Governance Committee approved the following recommendations on cognitively stimulating activities for people as they age.
4 Tips for Finding a Job After 60
4 TIPS FOR FINDING A JOB AFTER 60
Whether you’ve been laid off, you’re retired and looking for something to do or need a little supplemental income, here are some tips on finding a job after 60.
Evaluate
Almost half of boomers have saved less than $10,000 for retirement. So, the financial necessity to stay employed is a real one, and believe it or not, working past retirement is a great opportunity. No matter where you find yourself, it is best to start by gauging your financial situation.
How long can you sustain your current lifestyle? How much do you need going forward? The reality is that you will probably not be hired at the rich salary you had been making. You may want to rethink your retirement age and also consider when to collect social security.
This may be just the impetus you need to consider the kind of work you want to do at this stage in life. Maybe moving to a whole new field will give you more personal satisfaction. Remember Robert De Niro in the movie The Intern. Losing your job may well be finding your life.
Choose Your Path
Self-Employed
If you prefer to stay in the field you know, then you may consider consulting. If you know the industry well, you may identify products or services that solve key issues in that industry.
You will need some lag time to get up and running, so make sure you consider how long you can last without a paycheck and benefits. You may also take a part time job while building your business on the side.
Something important you will need is a business plan. SCORE, a national non-profit organization affiliated with US Small Business Administration, advices small businesses on these issues. You may have a similar agency in your country.
Consider starting a blog or podcast. It’s a great way to test the waters and get a feel for what people want. These become important marketing tools for your business and lead to business creation. It can also help if you seek employment.
College classes on entrepreneurship are also a good option.
Taking a Job
If you choose to become employed, think about finding jobs at smaller organizations, including nonprofits, start-ups, small trade associations and niche educational programs. Typically, these employers operate with spare staff and depend on the experience and expertise that comes with age.
A career coach can help you if you want to change your field of work. And you must have a complete LinkedIn page as this is the new resume.
Half of all jobs come through a network. You may be out of practice after years of security on the job, so now you need to find groups where you can interact. For example, my Rotary service not only fulfills a need to give back but also puts me in contact with other business professionals.
You might also consider volunteering for a board position. All of these things set you up for success.
Combat Ageism
Unfortunately, ageism is a fact of life in society. If you are a job seeker over 60, what can you do to combat it? Make ageism work in your favor.
Some employers believe older people only want to work for a short time, compared with younger people. When researchers look at that question, it is actually the opposite.
Older workers tend to be more loyal and stick around longer than the younger worker. The younger worker is moving around to acquire new skills. We see that with the Millennials.
Another obstacle is the perception that older workers are less productive and energetic. But we know that they are as productive as any other age group. The variations are between workers, not age groups. To counteract that stereotype, an older worker who is physically fit can exude a get-up-and-go attitude.
Some employers also believe older job applicants expect high salaries or are overqualified. Most people over 60 are happy and willing to go back to a position they had a few years ago, if it gets them back doing work they’re qualified to do and want to do. But again, you have to set your expectations.
A lack of technology savvy is also a misperception. That is why engaging on social media, having a blog and tweeting is important. Consider this post from a LinkedIn colleague:
“I hired a person over 60. Should not be a big deal, but it was. ‘He will never work hard enough,’ ‘He will not fit into our culture,’ ‘He will be taking a lot of sick days,’ ‘He is overqualified,’ etc.
Nobody said he was too old. They were all ‘politically correct.’ He was one of the best hires I ever made. We all learned from him. He made a huge difference for the company.”
Utilize These Resources
- Workforce50.com: For job seekers 50 and over; formerly called Senior Job Bank.
- Retired Brains: For older boomers, seniors and retirees.
- Seniors4Hire: Nationwide online career center.
- RetireeWorkforce.com: For retirees and mature workers.
- We’ve listed others on our web site.
How about you? Finding a Job After 60? Have you been downsized but still desire employment? What is your story? Did you retire and pursue a passion into a business? Share with us tips on finding a job after 60.
Being 60 – Reflections on Life – Smilecast 92
Being 60 (reprinted from my Sixty and Me Blog)
Reflections on Life: 5 Things I Have Learned by My 60s
Yes, the big SIX ZERO hits me on April 29. I remember freaking out at 30 but no so much with the other decades of 40 and 50.
I have mixed emotions on being 60. Make no mistake, I have a blessed life – great wife, three kids, six grandkids, financial security. But as typical of this age, you start to look at legacy and contribution. And I grapple with what is success.
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