U3A Vall Del Pop get curious
Understanding the ageing brain
After the General Assembly on Thursday, January 9 Lawrence Whalley, a retired professor of mental health from the University of Aberdeen, delivered a detailed talk on his forty year study of the complex subject of ‘Understanding the Ageing Brain’. His study focused on two groups ([791 people) born in Aberdeen in 1921 and 1936, aged 63 or 76 in 1998 who were re-examined on up to five occasions to 2014. At recruitment all were living independently in the community. At least 90 were to develop dementia. Over 350 underwent brain MRI exams for his research.
The issues affecting the ageing effects are many and affect people in different ways, and different parts of the brain in varying degrees. So, the study had to be comprehensive in order to enable realistic conclusions to be drawn. Amongst many other subjects it had to address issues such as gender, education, family history, lifetime experiences, medical history (including smoking/alcohol consumption etc), physical and social activity. It is considered that ageing of the brain can start as early as the age of 25 – 30 years, and that trigger points in your life can influence the rate of change.
Although the population is generally living longer, and consequently the number of dementia cases is increasing even though the actual rate at which dementia care is needed is decreasing in developed countries. The dementia rate is falling because the better overall health services mean the population is generally healthier now in their old age, vascular disease is reduced, we have better lifestyles [living conditions &diet], higher education leading to more complex jobs and more mental stimulation (management jobs seem most beneficial to protect the ageing brain).
The main findings confirmed that early life exposures (family history ovf dementia, length of formal education, parental loss before age 12 and childhood poverty) were influential in rates of mental decline. Later life influences included a nutrient rich dietary habit, cardiovascular health, working with people or data and certain personality traits help to delay the onset of dementia. Brain health can be stimulated by controlling hypertension, maintaining healthy activity, reducing drugs (including tobacco and alcohol), ensure intake of folate/B12, and ensure a good active social life.
These life-style factors contribute in late adulthood to preservation of mental abilities. There is no “magic bullet” and although genes are important, they are only a part of the story. Our shared environment has a major role in how we age, and this is probably the most likely effective approach to prevention of decline, and here the U3A, with its many activity groups and personal interactivity, can be an important part of personal action plan.
For further information check our website www.u3avalldelpop.com.