|
Act III - Longevity - the Secrets of Long Life |
|
|
|
April 2007
By Donna E Duke
Dr Mary Ann Murphy, Associate Professor at UBCO addressed a group of members of the Society for Leaning in Retirement at the Martin Education Centre on the topic of Longevity - the Secrets of Long life. Dr Murphy has investigated recent studies and in particular how the brain functions and what can be done to maintain healthy brain function as we age.
Dr Murphy's own parents are examples of healthy aging. Her father is 92 and mother is 86. When the professor inquired of her Dad's secret to a long life, he told her:
"Every morning when I wake up I stretch my arms out wide. If I don't hit wood, it's a good day!"
Dr Murphy referred to many studies and in particular the National Geographic web site: www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0511/feature1 for much of the information she used in her presentation. It's worth a look.
Studying the aging brain appears to be at the forefront in the scientific community and there are some new findings. For example, studies indicate that the aging brain can rewire itself to compensate for loss. The brain of the older person performs better with some functions such as the ability to recognize patterns. Because of these new findings, pilots are challenging forced retirement.
There is typically one centenarian to every 100,000 persons in North America. In Okinawa, Japan there are 34 per 100,000 living healthily for 100 years and beyond. The most centenarians living in Canada are located in Yarmouth, NS. Some common traits among all these people are:
· live near a fresh body of water
· grow their own food and eat it fresh
· have been active all of their lives
· hardy stock from old fashioned towns
· few are obese but not all have healthy diets
· mentally engaged - study or do creative arts rather than watch t.v.
Some key ingredients to healthy longevity are:
Healthy eating - the Okinawa Diet and Mediterranean Diets were both mentioned - including a handful of nuts is found to be very important.
Exercise your mind as well as your body. Brisk walking is noted to be among the best forms of exercise. Learn something new to rewire your brain.
Reduce stress with more socializing.
Have a purpose in life - a reason to wake up in the morning
Spirituality - a belief in a higher power - Seventh Day Adventists live longer than the average North American. Wine is good for you - particularly red wine - limit to 1 to 2 glasses per day.
Chocolate lovers rejoice! It is good for you! Especially the high quality chocolate that contains 60% cocoa or more, 1 and one half to 3 ounces per day
Genetics isn't every thing and represents only 30% of the equation - the rest is up to us.
Dr Murphy concluded that the aging brain is not set and can be regenerated through mental activity. She closed with these recommendations: a book by Michael Roizin, MD titled You: the Owners Manual, learn something new and wear a helmet when riding your bike. |
