In elderly, becoming demented or not is of primary concern of health. Dementia in elderly has been believed to ba a kind of physiological process. Recenetly, there have been more knowledges on its etiology. Aging, genetics, way of living environment and so forth. Accumulation of beta amyloid protein in the CNS seems to be a result of the process. The earlier process of degeneration is targeted now.
It is not only a private issue but also a public probelm especially in the developed countries like Japan where aging is in fast progress in the society. Certain percentage of elderly should suffer from dementia of Alzheimer's disease and the others. It could be a big burden for the social security.
The following article says high cognitive lifetime enrichment would lower or delay deveoping Alzheimer's disease related dementia. Being able to access only this abstract of the original paper, I am not sure how lifetime enrichment has been determined and even quatified and what pathological findings in the brain have been associated with the result. Still this article in this renowned journal of neurology may consolidate our preconception that cultural and intellectual activities may lower the risk of dementia in elderly days.
What do you think I have thought of reading this article? I really have had lifetime enrichment. It is difficult for me to objectively decide what experience has enriched my life. It should be ham radio and music in my case. I won't boast of these but believe, without them, my life has been far from being rich.
Through ham radio, I have had acquaintances with people abroad and had shared the same time for decades. Subjectively, it has been the lifetime enrichment for me for sure. Through conversation with them, I have stimulated on a lot of things and have learned a lot from them. It has never been waste of time in my life, I believe.
Secondly, music has attracted me so much since young days. Either playing an instrument or just listening to it, it is an emotional as well as intellectual stimulus for me. It has never bored me a bit. Whenever listening to Bach, I still feel as if I were present at the creation of the universe.
Even if they haven't enriched my life as this paper says and would not help preventing me from Alzheimer's disease, I am still grateful to these elements in life and those who have shared them with me. In the upcoming several years, it becomes evident if these were the enrichment in life or not. Even if I get demented, I still owe much to them.
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