Cómo combatir los cambios cerebrales a medida que envejeces

La mayoría de nosotros acepta el envejecimiento como una consecuencia inevitable en el tiempo. El cabello se vuelve más gris. La piel es menos flexible. La postura puede verse comprometida.

What is less visible — and less acknowledged — is that the brain ages as well. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released a major report on what it called cognitive aging. It is a life-long process that changes as we age. Some changes are predictable, such as slower reaction time or less reliable memory. Other changes are positive, such as wisdom and accumulated knowledge.

Alzheimer’s Disease only affects about 10 percent of Americans while cognitive aging affects everyone. The National Institute on Aging (NAI) has an easy-to-understand guide on the difference between mild forgetfulness and more serious memory problems. According to an AARP Encuesta, nearly 9 out of 10 older Americans said they were very concerned about staying mentally sharp.

The IOM report points out that cognitive aging, directly or indirectly, contributes to $2.9 billion in financial fraud. Scammers frequently target the elderly because of their lifetime savings and often impaired decision-making.

Las personas pueden afectar qué tan bien envejece su cerebro. La OIM recomienda:

• Sea físicamente activo.
• Reducir y controlar los factores de riesgo cardiovascular, como el colesterol, la hipertensión, la diabetes y el tabaquismo.
• Revise regularmente sus medicamentos y condiciones con un profesional de la salud para asegurarse de que no estén afectando su capacidad mental.
• Ser social e intelectualmente activo.
• Asegúrate de dormir lo suficiente.
• Incluso si usted o un ser querido tiene Alzheimer u otra forma de demencia, estas recomendaciones mejorarán la salud del cerebro.

Two recent studies found other protective factors. An NIA study found that people who are fit aerobically in middle age are able to fend off decreases in brain volume later in life. Another concluded that adding olive oil and nuts to a Mediterranean diet protects cognitive health.

The Carter Rehabilitation and Fitness Center at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth has an Exercise Is Medicine program, a national initiative by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association. Of the hundreds who work out there, about half had medicine “prescribed” for them. The average age of participants is over 60. For more information, call (800) 422-9567.

Josh Medders, fisiólogo del ejercicio y gerente de acondicionamiento físico del centro, dijo que el programa recomienda un mínimo de 150 minutos de actividad aeróbica moderada a la semana para mejorar la salud del cerebro. También recomienda ejercicios que mejoran la estabilidad y la fuerza para reforzar la conexión entre el cuerpo y el cerebro. Dijo que los entrenadores del centro trabajan individualmente con sus miembros para revisar sus historias de salud y objetivos para elaborar un plan de entrenamiento.

If you are concerned about memory loss, there are simple and relatively quick screening and assessment tests your family doctor can use to test for disorders.

For more tips on slowing cognitive aging, watch this television interview with David Winter, MD, chief clinical officer and chairman of the board of HealthTexas Provider Network.