Older but Wiser?
- Written by Chuck Guilford
Maybe the old saying is true. Recent studies mentioned in a New York Times article suggest that those "senior moments" may not be due to failing mental capacity, but rather to a broadening attention span that requires more thought processing as we age.
These findings don't minimize the sometimes negative impacts of aging upon mental capacity, as found in Altzheimer's Disease, for instance, but suggest that the effects of aging upon thinking are often oversimplified and misunderstood.
New Study: Older People Are Happier
- Written by Chuck Guilford
NY Times Retirement Section
- Written by Chuck Guilford
The New York Times is currently featuring a special Retirement Section with several articles focused mainly on economic issues but also containing links to health articles such as the excellent "Zen and the Art of Coping With Altzheimer's" and lifestyle pieces such as "Whatever You Do, Call It Work."
Better Cognitive Health
- Written by Chuck Guilford
According to a news release by the National Institute of Aging, a recent study supported by the National National Institute of Aging (which is part of the National Institutes of Health) and Harvard University found that cognitive health among older Americans improved between 1993 and 2002. "These data suggest that we may be experiencing a shift in the cognitive health of older Americans," said Richard J. Hodes, M.D., director of the National Institute on Aging.
The results were attributed to such factors as improved treatments for stroke, heart disease, and vascular conditions, as well as to higher levels of education, which may help provide a reserve capacity for people suffering cognitive impairment.