| Getting Older Isn't for Sissies So Here's What You | | | | relying on this type of intelligence is what is called |
| Need to Know | | | | prospective memory or the type of memory |
| None of us want to get older because we worry | | | | that involves our recall of what needs to be done. |
| about the problems we might have, both | | | | So grandpa might forget where he just put down |
| physically and mentally. While it's true that many | | | | his glasses but can go to his woodshop and |
| functions decline, some don't. Also scientists are | | | | construct a birdhouse right down to the last detail, |
| busy working to find out simple ways to prevent | | | | something that he likely learned decades ago and |
| some of the aging process. So while we age, | | | | that he has continued through adulthood until it is |
| more and more of us will be able to utilize the | | | | habit. That same birdhouse building also relies on |
| benefits from science that can give us quality of | | | | prospective memory or the recall of what needs |
| life into advanced age. | | | | to be done when. Other cognitive abilities include |
| Scientist tell us that we don't all age at the same | | | | picture recognition and tasks like typing or playing |
| rate, but there are tendencies for all seniors to | | | | a musical instrument, which are one's particular |
| decline in certain mental functions. Some folks will | | | | expert skills that remain in memory. |
| suffer minor decline, others serious decline; but | | | | What also has been found is that whereas certain |
| functions that we have in youth won't be as | | | | functions may decline but not necessarily the |
| adept when we're older. | | | | whole person and not all functions at the same |
| Age does affect cognitive abilities. That's | | | | rate. In fact certain functions may actually |
| particularly true for what is called "fluid intelligence" | | | | increase as we age. Those functions according to |
| which is the ability to attend to task. That ability | | | | Jeanne Wei at Harvard University include |
| to attend is related to such activities as making | | | | creativity, wisdom and spiritual strength. This tells |
| inferences, understanding text and spatial | | | | us that we should implement creative learning |
| cognition. So having a new and complex task with | | | | experiences in senior centers to provide quality of |
| detail that involves inferential thinking will be more | | | | life rather than forcing numbers of them to sit in |
| difficult for the older than the younger person. | | | | wheelchairs and in front of televisions, |
| As we age we also have more difficulty as | | | | warehoused with no stimulation. We often put our |
| conditions become particularly intricate or | | | | seniors aside just at the time those special gifts |
| unfamiliar. Technology is an area where this | | | | they have can be most beneficial to the rest of |
| problem shows up as it has been found that older | | | | us. It's why elders have long been revered for |
| persons have problems finding their way around | | | | their wisdom in many cultures. |
| complex websites. Encoding new memories and | | | | What impact does this information have on |
| using working memory without losing track of | | | | programs for the elderly and what we do with |
| information as it is processed becomes more | | | | our own lives? First of all we should understand |
| difficult as we age. On the other hand there are | | | | that there are things that indeed we might lose, |
| areas of intelligence that tend to remain fairly | | | | but what we gain may well replace them. |
| stable during the aging process. | | | | Furthermore certain micronutrients such as |
| Most of us have experienced ourselves, or watch | | | | curcumin used in Indian curry and green tea have |
| our older parents or grandparents struggle to | | | | been shown to increase life span. Finally we should |
| remember a name or detail that they have just | | | | all insist that our seniors, and those of us who one |
| learned, but these same individuals can relate a | | | | day will be, have the opportunity to share those |
| story from their youth with clarity. That function | | | | three special gifts of wisdom, experience and |
| is called "crystallized intelligence" which is those | | | | spiritual strength that we need for our ultimate |
| skills and abilities that have become habit and | | | | understanding and quality of life. |
| operate at the subconscious level. Other tasks | | | | |