Health & Wellness Article - September 2008 Use it or lose it—redefined!
“Older adults can make new connections and rewire their brains. The process is called neurogenesis.”
The call to action in the phrase “use it or lose it” has been around for at least four decades. In the past, we have associated it with the importance of physical activity over the life span. New in the theory is the importance of doing certain types of cognitive enhancement activities that can delay—and even interrupt—the onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is always a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of an age-related dementing illness. We know this from research done by Ronald C. Petersen and others at the Mayo Clinic.
Touchmark, the parent company of all Touchmark and Waterford communities in the US and Canada, made a decision to provide training for wellness professionals from every location in 2008. Dr. Rob Winningham’s 11-hour training provides the latest research and information and then offers certification to the attendees.
Some of the highlights from the training curriculum are:
- Many independent older adults are not getting enough cognitive stimulation.
- Declining cognitive abilities are the primary reason individuals are unable to stay in their own homes and subsequently move from independent living to assisted living; from assisted living to memory care or skilled nursing.
- Older adults can improve their memory ability with regular cognitive exercise. The “use it or lose it” theory is now widely accepted by scientists.
- Cognitive enhancement activities are not “one size fits all needs,” and the selection and instruction of the sessions are critical to success.
As we celebrate Active Aging week, September 23 – 28, we will be sharing information about how to enroll and participate in a number of “brain game” classes and activities at each of our communities. For additional information on classes, scheduling, and participation, contact the Life Enrichment/Wellness staff.
© 2008 Touchmark