Q: I’m approaching my 50th birthday and freaking out a little. I don’t want to face old age with declining cognition. Is it inevitable? — Pat R., San Francisco
A: Age does produce changes, but ongoing research into how lifestyle choices can help counter declines in everything from mental ability to muscle strength proves you can live longer, healthier and happier.
The National Institute on Aging highlights two powerful components of a brain-loving lifestyle. First of all, super-agers’ brains are packed with neurons that are linked to social intelligence and awareness. As we say all the time, having a posse and a purpose are essential for continued mental and physical health! So, make sure you reach out to friends old and new and engage in social activities, volunteering that’s important to you, and work or hobbies that inspire you.
Super-agers also have less brain shrinkage, especially in areas used to integrate memory, attention, cognitive control, and motivation. To keep yours robust, explore the world, interact with people, take classes, play speed-of-pro- cessing games, and don’t dull your wits with inflammatory foods (added sugars, red meats), sedentary habits, or chronic stress (try meditation and yoga).
We also believe in the power of physi- cal activity, especially when you walk and play with your posse, to strengthen not just muscles but brainpower. That’s why we advocate that everyone finds the level of physical activity that provides daily moderate and vigorous stimula- tion, by walking, swimming, doing chair yoga or tai chi, and doing strength- building with stretchy bands.
Clearly, if you want to be a super-ager at 80 (with the cognitive powers of someone 30 years younger), you need to rev up your brain today. To get started, check out your Actual Age at LongevityPlaybook.com, Dr. Mike’s book “The Great Age Reboot,” and “Nutrition and Brain Health” at iHerb.com/blog. The great reward from exploring, thinking and moving more is that it is fun!
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Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www. iHerb.com, the world’s leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively.
©2024 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
