I just started a new blog called "Life Story Telling" about writing life histories. With this in mind, an article at PsychArticles Direct about Autobiographical Memory that I read today about seniors was especially interesting because it says seniors can "travel back in time to relive personal events in the most distant past better than those in the recent past." As a caregiver who assists many different people, I often see people in their 80's and 90's who might remember the time they moved to a new home as a teen-ager, but not remember events from last week.
The authors studied the effects of aging on autobiographical memory on 180 people. The nature of memories over five lifetime periods were studied. The study was originally published in "Psychology and Aging."
Family members and caregivers reminiscing with elderly seniors might try using photos, historical events, scrapboooks, family photo albums and other memory grabbers. If an elderly senior cannot remember events from a few days ago, memories from early in life might still be available for retrieval.
Organizing the life history and family history chronologically in albums or a life story can help preserve the memories by providing triggers.
When I've assisted people who had Alzheimer's or Dementia I brought out their photo albums and scrapbooks for us to look at when we had time for activities. Each person is very different and memory ability seems to change from moment to moment sometimes. However, even with some people in late stage Alzheimer's they still recognized things part of the time from the albums.
Showing posts with label seniors memory retrieval. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seniors memory retrieval. Show all posts
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
Smarter Seniors - Study Says 74 Is The New 59
I knew that mental stimulation made a difference in mental functioning and an article titled "Today's Seniors Are Smarter" by Salynn Boyles at Web MD Medical News has good news. The subtitle says "Tests Suggest Less Mental Decline for Current Generation of Elderly." People today have more mental stimulation through mass media and popular culture. The average mental ability of someone 74 years old in the study was closer to someone 15 years younger in the earlier test group.
The study compared test scores of 74 year olds today with scores from 74 year olds 16 years ago. The 74 year olds today scored closer to the 59 year olds who were tested 16 years ago.
The study said this shows that people are more able to keep working beyond retirement age today.
The scientists concluded that the huge amounts of information we receive from television, movies, and other cultural sources are providing mental stimulation so we are "smarter."
The past 20 years have been times of such great change with the increase in the mass media and the internet.
As the baby boomer generation ages it will be interesting to follow the studies to see what the characteristics of the boomers will be in ten or twenty years.
Keeping the mind exercised and mentally stimulated is something we are all reading about a lot these days. This study provides additional encouragement for staying mentally active and keeping our environments enriched with learning opportunities.
The study compared test scores of 74 year olds today with scores from 74 year olds 16 years ago. The 74 year olds today scored closer to the 59 year olds who were tested 16 years ago.
The study said this shows that people are more able to keep working beyond retirement age today.
The scientists concluded that the huge amounts of information we receive from television, movies, and other cultural sources are providing mental stimulation so we are "smarter."
The past 20 years have been times of such great change with the increase in the mass media and the internet.
As the baby boomer generation ages it will be interesting to follow the studies to see what the characteristics of the boomers will be in ten or twenty years.
Keeping the mind exercised and mentally stimulated is something we are all reading about a lot these days. This study provides additional encouragement for staying mentally active and keeping our environments enriched with learning opportunities.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Exercising Mental Muscles During Retirement Makes a Difference
I just read another interesting article about mental fitness. Richard Roche, Ph.D., National University of Ireland, says, "The brain is like a muscle that should be exercized through the retirement years as a defense against dementia, cognitive lapses, and memory failure."
The article, "Rote Learning Improves Memory in Seniors"at Medical News Today is about a study that showed seniors could fight memory loss by practicing memorization. In the study intensive rote memory learning was followed by an equal amount of time to rest. The people in the study showed improved memory and verbal recall.
As people age forgetfulness and difficulty with learning new material often occurs. The study said 40% of the people over 60 have some type of memory difficulty. Loss of brain cells and changes in brain chemistry cause mild memory difficulties.
The people in the study spent 6 weeks using rote memory learning, memorizing a 500 word newspaper article or poem. This was followed by 6 weeks of rest.
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to make measurements of chemicals and cells in the brain.
After 6 weeks of learning followed by a 6 week rest all of the people in the study had improved their ability to repeat a short story and a list of words, and to recall events that occurred earlier that day or week.
I will add that today members of the boomer generation are often caregiving for parents or elders who have memory loss. Greater awareness of memory loss is causing a trend of people looking for ways of exercising memory. Boomers and seniors are attending classes, taking up new interests that require learning, and doing puzzles and brain teasers.
Joining clubs, going back to school, starting retirement businesses, and staying mentally active instead of passively watching television are some of the ways people are practicing mental fitness.
At luminosity.com I found a cognitive fitness program for brain health that has brain games and exercises to improve memory, attention, and processing speed. The program was designed by scientists in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and bioinformatics. You can choose 30 sessions that take 10 to 15 minutes per day, or a varied choice of brain exercises.
Feedback is provided so you can track your progress. Time to start lifting those mental weights.
The article, "Rote Learning Improves Memory in Seniors"at Medical News Today is about a study that showed seniors could fight memory loss by practicing memorization. In the study intensive rote memory learning was followed by an equal amount of time to rest. The people in the study showed improved memory and verbal recall.
As people age forgetfulness and difficulty with learning new material often occurs. The study said 40% of the people over 60 have some type of memory difficulty. Loss of brain cells and changes in brain chemistry cause mild memory difficulties.
The people in the study spent 6 weeks using rote memory learning, memorizing a 500 word newspaper article or poem. This was followed by 6 weeks of rest.
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to make measurements of chemicals and cells in the brain.
After 6 weeks of learning followed by a 6 week rest all of the people in the study had improved their ability to repeat a short story and a list of words, and to recall events that occurred earlier that day or week.
I will add that today members of the boomer generation are often caregiving for parents or elders who have memory loss. Greater awareness of memory loss is causing a trend of people looking for ways of exercising memory. Boomers and seniors are attending classes, taking up new interests that require learning, and doing puzzles and brain teasers.
Joining clubs, going back to school, starting retirement businesses, and staying mentally active instead of passively watching television are some of the ways people are practicing mental fitness.
At luminosity.com I found a cognitive fitness program for brain health that has brain games and exercises to improve memory, attention, and processing speed. The program was designed by scientists in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and bioinformatics. You can choose 30 sessions that take 10 to 15 minutes per day, or a varied choice of brain exercises.
Feedback is provided so you can track your progress. Time to start lifting those mental weights.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Life Story Writing or Telling Provides Memory Retrieval Exercise for Seniors
Anthropologist Myla Colllier, San Luis Obispo, California explains that life story telling or writing provides memory retrieval exercise for seniors. It is an opportunity to record or write an autobiography, research ancestors, and enjoy studying historical events.
Sharpening memory by using old photographs, letters and souvenirs is beneficial and caregivers can help by providing questions, scrapbooks and historical events that "nudge" old memories back to the surface.
As a caregiver I have an interesting time when seniors are remembering life and historical events that they experienced.
Classes for seniors in life story and genealogy (reseaching ancestors) are popular. While many adult emeritus or adult community classes are often held at colleges and off campus locations, now assisted care senior facilities are joining up with local community educational programs to have instructors give classes there too.
Genealogy Clubs are available in many towns and members can share research techniques, meet for classes, and meet new friends.
A typical class in our community may take 8 weeks, several hours per class, and cover a different stage of life from early childhood to middle years and beyond at each meeting. Historical events and life events can be linked. For example, a senior might recall moving to California during the Great Depression of the 1930's.
Many websites have life history and genealogy guides and research available.
In San Luis Obispo County, California, Cuesta College Emeritus presents a variety of Life Story classes.
Instructor Myla Collier, an Anthropologist, provides a lively discussion group with weekly readings by the participants, steps to improve memory retrieval, and ways to organize the life history information.
For information you can call Myla Colllier at (805) 543-9514. Elsewhere you can check your local community activities or go to ancestry.com or one of the many other life history and genealogy websites.
Sharpening memory by using old photographs, letters and souvenirs is beneficial and caregivers can help by providing questions, scrapbooks and historical events that "nudge" old memories back to the surface.
As a caregiver I have an interesting time when seniors are remembering life and historical events that they experienced.
Classes for seniors in life story and genealogy (reseaching ancestors) are popular. While many adult emeritus or adult community classes are often held at colleges and off campus locations, now assisted care senior facilities are joining up with local community educational programs to have instructors give classes there too.
Genealogy Clubs are available in many towns and members can share research techniques, meet for classes, and meet new friends.
A typical class in our community may take 8 weeks, several hours per class, and cover a different stage of life from early childhood to middle years and beyond at each meeting. Historical events and life events can be linked. For example, a senior might recall moving to California during the Great Depression of the 1930's.
Many websites have life history and genealogy guides and research available.
In San Luis Obispo County, California, Cuesta College Emeritus presents a variety of Life Story classes.
Instructor Myla Collier, an Anthropologist, provides a lively discussion group with weekly readings by the participants, steps to improve memory retrieval, and ways to organize the life history information.
For information you can call Myla Colllier at (805) 543-9514. Elsewhere you can check your local community activities or go to ancestry.com or one of the many other life history and genealogy websites.
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