Bay Shore NY
5-30-2023 7:11pm

Check in on Yourself for Mental Health Month in May

SKYLARK'S ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - CHECK IN ON YOURSELF FOR MENTAL HEALTH MONTH IN MAY

We're at the end of Mental Health Month in May. Have you checked in on yourself? I hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend. The weather was perfect. This pause to remember our fallen soldiers is also a good time to check in on your mental health. We honor this each month of May.

Mental health is as important as physical health. As we age, not only our bodies change, but our brain changes, too. The brain shrinks with increasing age, and there are changes at all levels from molecules to morphology. Incidence of stroke, white matter lesions, and dementia also rise with age, as does level of memory impairment, and there are changes in levels of neurotransmitters and hormones. 

Slowing down brain aging or stopping it altogether would be the ultimate elixir to achieve eternal youth. Is brain aging a slippery slope that we need to accept? Or are there steps that we can take to reduce the rate of decline?

At around 3 pounds in weight, the human brain is a staggering feat of engineering with around 100 billion neurons interconnected via trillions of synapses.

Throughout a lifetime, the brain changes more than any other part of the body. From the moment the brain begins to develop in the third week of gestation to old age, its complex structures and functions are changing, networks and pathways connecting and severing.

During the first few years of life, the brain forms more than 1 million new neural connections every second. The size of the brain increases fourfold in the preschool period, and by age 6, it reaches around 90% of its adult volume.

The frontal lobes are the area of the brain responsible for executive functions, such as planning, working memory, and impulse control. These are among the last areas of the brain to mature, and they may not develop fully until around 35 years old.

As people age, their bodily systems — including the brain — gradually decline. “Slips of the mind” are associated with getting older. People often experience those same slight memory lapses in their 20s but do not give it a second thought.

Older adults often become anxious about memory slips due to the link between impaired memory and Alzheimer's disease. However, Alzheimer’s and other dementias are not a part of the normal aging process. Thank God for that.

Common memory changes that are associated with normal aging include:

  • Difficulty learning something new: Committing new information to memory can take longer.
  • Multitasking: Slowed processing can make planning parallel tasks more difficult.
  • Recalling names and numbers: Strategic memory, which helps with remembering names and numbers, begins to decline at age 20.
  • Remembering appointments: Without cues to recall the information, the brain may put appointments into “storage” and not access them unless something jogs the person’s memory.

Although some studies show that one-third of older adults struggle with declarative memory — that is, memories of facts or events that the brain has stored and can retrieve — other studies indicate that one-fifth of 70-year-olds perform cognitive tests just as well as people aged 20.

Scientists are currently piecing together sections of the giant puzzle of brain research to determine how the brain subtly alters over time to cause these changes.

General changes that researchers think occur during brain aging include:

  • Brain mass: Shrinkage in the frontal lobe and hippocampus, which are areas involved in higher cognitive function and encoding new memories, starts at around the age of 60 or 70 years.
  • Cortical density: This refers to the thinning of the outer-ridged surface of the brain due to declining synaptic connections. Fewer connections may contribute to slower cognitive processing.
  • White matter: White matter consists of myelinated nerve fibers that are bundled into tracts and carry nerve signals between brain cells. Researchers think that myelin shrinks with age, and, as a result, processing is slower and cognitive function is reduced.
  • Neurotransmitter systems: Researchers suggest that the brain generates fewer chemical messengers with age, and it is this decrease in dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, and norepinephrine activity that may play a role in declining cognition and memory and increasing depression.

In understanding the neural basis of cognitive decline, researchers can uncover which therapies or strategies may help slow or prevent brain deterioration.

So how can you strengthen your brain? Reading is a good way. So is doing puzzles and word games. When I was growing up, we had Scrabble tournaments in our home. My older brother, Gene, usually won. It was a great way to learn new words and keep the noggin strong. So use your brain as often as possible. Try to learn something new every day because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and Beyond, our brain can stay healthy if we remain open-minded and continue to embrace learning.

SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - FARMINGDALE STATE COLLEGE

It's never too late to get a college degree. Maybe you have some old credits that you want to transfer. I did. I went back to school during the COVID lockdown at the age of 62. My major is Professional Communications, and I love to write. I have not only learned about research and analysis, but I've learned about myself as well. That's the greatest lesson of all. I transferred a lot of credits from Hunter College where I majored in Film and Media Studies many years ago in New York City. When I moved back to Long Island, I always had the intention of obtaining my Bachelor's Degree. When I began working at Farmingdale State College (I graduated with an Associates Degree here in 1978), I contacted Hunter College and got my old transcript. I had 70 credits. 50 of them were transferrable to my current major. Since I already had a degree at FSC, I had all of my prerequisites taken care of, so I came in as a senior. I'm almost done. Imagine, I'll be a two-time graduate from the same college. If I can do it, so can you. So, take a look at those old credits. They are still useful. What do you want to study? Visit www.farmingdale.edu to find out.

SKYLARK'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"It's never too late to become what you might have been."

Victorian novelist George Eliot

SKYLARK'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What have you always dreamed of learning about? 

Please comment in the section below. I'd love to hear from you.

SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - SCHOOLDAYS (RING RING GOES THE BELL) by CHUCK BERRY

<!-- EMBEDDED YOUTUBE URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flTzZeXlxL8 -->

LYRICS

Up in the mornin' and out to school
The teacher is teachin' the Golden Rule
American history and practical math
You study' em hard and hopin' to pass
Workin' your fingers right down to the bone
And the guy behind you won't leave you alone
Ring, ring, goes the bell
The cook in the lunchroom's ready to sell
You're lucky if you can find a seat
You're fortunate if you have time to eat
Back in the classroom, open your books
Gee, but the teacher don't know how mean she looks
Soon as three o'clock rolls around
You finally lay your burden down
Close up your books, get out of your seat
Down the halls and into the street
Up to the corner and 'round the bend
Right to the juke joint you go in
Drop the coin right into the slot
You gotta hear something that's really hot
With the one you love, you're makin' romance
All day long you been wantin' to dance
Feelin' the music from head to toe
'Round and 'round and 'round you go
Drop the coin right into the slot
You gotta hear something that's really hot
With the one you love, you're makin' romance
All day long you been wantin' to dance
Feelin' the music from head to toe
'Round and 'round and 'round you go
Hail, hail rock 'n' roll
Deliver me from the days of old
Long live rock 'n' roll
The beat of the drum is loud and bold
Rock, rock, rock 'n' roll
The feelin' is there, body and soul

WITH LOVE AND GRATITUDE

Hello and thank you for reading my weekly newsletter, Skylark Live Town News, representing Bay Shore and towns beyond. My articles are about human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and places I've been to and things I want to explore. There is also a calendar of upcoming events. Please consider becoming a subscriber. There are several levels, and it’s easy to do. Just open the newsletter and the subscribe button is there. As a subscriber, you will receive a copy of my newsletter each Wednesday morning in your email. You can also advertise your business or event here as well. You can do it yourself or email me to discuss this at christineskylark@aol.com. You can also PM me. Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live.

I also have an inspirational vlog, 60 and Beyond with Skylark, on the first Monday-of-the-month on my YouTube Channel, Skylark Live. This is designed to inspire people 60 and beyond to continue to thrive through knowledge and self-awareness. Please take a moment to subscribe to my channel and be sure to click the bell to get notified when I upload a new video.

I have also created an account on Patreon. You can support me there as well. Visit www.patreon.com and search for Skylark Live.

Please feel free to comment about my article below. I'd love to know what's on your mind.

Thank you for your love and support. Apprezza la giornata. Cherish the day.
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