#gerontology

[dankmemes23]

[scienceguy22]

The taxi and ambulance driver brain boost.

Studies—especially the famous London taxi driver research—have found that cabbies have larger hippocampi, the brain region responsible for memory & navigation. Think of the hippocampus as your internal GPS. It's not difficult to see why. London cabbies must memorize 25,000+ streets, landmarks, routes, & traffic patterns. It's like forcing your brain to run a marathon every day. This strengthens neural circuits used for memory, & it builds cognitive reserve, which is like having extra "backup brain power" that protects against dementia. Ambulance drivers also navigate complex routes, make rapid decisions, stay mentally alert & process high-stakes information. Out of 400 professions, ambulance drivers and taxi drivers have the lowest risk of Alzheimer's and dementia.

But although their brains are sharper & have a lower risk of dementia & Alzheimer's, they are more likely to die younger. This is the paradox, but the main reasons they die younger are chronic stress overload; they have to handle constant traffic, angry passengers, time pressure, air pollution & noise pollution & trauma exposure. Chronic stress increases blood pressure, heart attack risk, stroke risk, & inflammation. Negative stress is one of the strongest predictors of early cardiovascular death. (Stress can be positive, for example, preparing for your wedding, but we handle that kind of stress much better than negative stress). Ambulance drivers often work overnight shifts, 12-24-hour shifts & rotating schedules. Shift work is linked to higher cancer risk, higher heart disease, metabolic disorders & a shorter lifespan. Taxi drivers & ambulance drivers face high collision risk, fatigue-related accidents & high-speed driving hazards, while taxi drivers have to face irate or even violent passengers.

Because drivers have to sit for long periods, it means little movement, poor circulation, higher obesity risk & higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Sitting for long periods (8-12 hours/d) is associated with a 20-40% higher mortality risk & increased cardiovascular disease. In addition, taxi drivers have no benefits, no healthcare & no retirement security. Economic stress is a major predictor of early mortality. Because so many ambulance and taxi drivers don't live long enough to reach the age at which Alzheimer's typically manifests, statistically speaking, they appear to have a lower risk of dying from Alzheimer's, but only because they are more likely to pass away from other causes sooner.

Still, the takeaway message is that brains stay healthier when we challenge them, AND we move our bodies. Modern life has a problem. We've outsourced navigation to GPS & we spend far too long in front of the screen. It reminds me of many of my friends who have a fancy treadmill or exercise bike in their home & use it as a clothes rack. Walking just 30 minutes/day (1.5 mi/2.4 km) reduces dementia risk by 30-40% in many studies. Bottom line: Use your brain more & move your body. These small habits build cognitive reserve (brain resilience), cardiovascular strength & longevity.

[useless-catalanfacts]

a catalan lady is now the oldest person on earth, with 115 years

Yes! Congratulations to Maria Branyas Morera. She was born in 1907!

She's also the oldest person to have survived COVID-19, when she was 113 years old.

[caribaezjuarez]

Look at what I am reading in the Bible. “Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭19‬:‭32‬

I think I have a good job. I am a certified nurse assistant. I take care of the elderly in a nursing home. It is not easy to take care of the elderly sometimes because some patients have dementia, weakness, and psychological illnesses. They get confused and anxious. In my opinion, you have to have a kind and patient heart with them. You also need to have a humbled heart. As a nurse assistant, we have to clean the patient. Clean them like change their diaper and clean their room because infection control is a thing. Shower them. Feed them. Give them companionship. I also have noticed that taking care of the elderly has helped me respect my parents more. Also think of God more. I like to pray with the patients because some patients love it when I pray for them. So, I like this Bible verse how God says we need to respect the elderly. God knows everything we do. Nothing is hidden from Him.

[bmanmemories]

I am not Hungry!

I am not Hungry!

I don't want it. Where have you heard that before? At any age, eating may seem to be the one thing you can control. Witness the two year old who will only eat the bun, but no hot dog. Two days later she will only eat hot dog, but no bun! Or the senior who seems to only pick at his meal, and the teen who thinks a burger and coke provide all the essential nutrients, as long as a chocolate bar is…

View On WordPress

[crimsonpublishersgernotology]

Staff Perspectives of a Café on the Premises of an Aged Care Facility_ Crimson Publishers

Staff Perspectives of a Café on the Premises of an Aged Care Facility by Alexa Andrew in Geriatrics Studies journal

Aim: To explore the value of a café at an aged care facility from staff members’ perspectives.

Background: A contemporary approach in residential aged care known as ‘person centered care’, acknowledges the resident as a person who has individual needs, desires, interests and values who is part of a family and wider social network. At the heart of ‘person centered care’ is the relationship between the staff member and the resident which is encouraged to be meaningful, empathetic and reciprocal. A focus on the relational aspects of care indicates that the environment of residential aged care facilities needs to offer social and interactive spaces designed to provide a more homelike environment and facilitate the development of meaningful relationships. A café environment and the activity of going to a café are inherently social and have the potential to contribute to the fulfilment of ‘person centered care’ where relationships are valued. The café, which was the subject of this research, is part of a large aged care facility and was established during a process of major renovation. The café was designed to be used by residents, their family and friends, the staff and the public.

https://crimsonpublishers.com/ggs/fulltext/GGS.000565.php

For more Open access journalsin Crimson publishers please click on the link https://crimsonpublishers.com/

For more articles in Gerontology Journal please click on the link https://crimsonpublishers.com/ggs/

For more about Crimson Publishers please click on the link: https://publons.com/publisher/6342/crimson-publishers

[mikedrawsdota]

Snapfire

[joannalannister]

The number of homebound, isolated seniors will dramatically rise [in the coming years], contributing to an existing loneliness epidemic. The isolation, ironically, will be worse in the sidewalk-less, car-oriented suburbs America created to make Baby Boomer childhoods so utopian. What happens to tens of millions of suburban residents when they're 85 and unable to drive or walk to stores, community centers, or doctors? "In the '60s, a majority of people weren't living past 70, or 75," says Hilde Waerstad, research associate with the MIT Age Lab. "We're entering into this new era that we just have not seen before."

–“The Graying of America”