AGING “‘Old’ really is a state of mind…” (Dr. Shari Rochen, doctor of internal medicine at the Pearland Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Houston Chronicle) “Age by itself does not necessarily bring premature disease and disability, but it is the belief that age brings these conditions that hastens their arrival.” (Norman Vincent Peale quoted by Dr. Victor S. Sierpina, Galveston
“A study by the Danish Aging Research Center is projecting that half of the babies born in the U.S. today are likely to live past 100” writes my colleague, Stormy Becker Falso from Georgia. Think of it – more than half of us living past 100! Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization,
You’ve probably heard the saying, “you’re as young as you feel“. Research suggests that this is truer than we might realize; our thoughts about aging can affect how we age. The benefits of positive perceptions of aging include the following: a higher level of physical functioning over time¹ 44% more likely to fully recover from
“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?” ~ Satchel Paige “Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” ~ Betty Friedan “At thirty, man suspects himself a fool; Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan; At fifty, chides his infamous delay, Pushes his
(Photo: © Glow Images, Models are used for illustrative purposes.)
GO FISH anyone?
New research suggests that playing cards may help preserve mental health.
A 12/13/2012 PRWEB article republished by the San Francisco Chronicle (SFGATE.com) states, “The Project for Natural Health Choices Inc. encourages playing cards and board games as these may actually contribute to a healthier brain according to new research conducted by Rush University Medical Center and the Illinois Institute of Technology. The research results, presented on November 25, 2012 at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, suggest that playing cards and board games can help fight brain aging.”
A study published in 2000 by the American Psychological Association found that “religious involvement was significantly associated with lower mortality.” Similarly, a study published in The American Journal of Public Health in 1997 found that frequent religious attendance reduced mortality.
Researchers suspect some of this comes from healthier behaviors and more social interaction characteristic of those with religious involvement. But, to their credit, they accept that the research results show a connection between religious involvement and reduced mortality and indicate that more research is needed to understand why.
I recently read an interesting book entitled, “Long For This World – The Strange Science of Immortality” by Jonathan Weiner. Much of the book centers on conversations with Aubrey de Grey who believes that aging is a disease caused by the accumulation of waste at the cellular level, sometimes called the “disposable soma theory”.