Healthy Ageing: All’s not lost in old age

 This month, we covered the various struggles faced by geriatric population. To conclude this topic, we would like to end on a more positive note. Growing old does not necessarily mean a loss of health and quality of life. There are various protective factors involved and ways to age gracefully.

 

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Protective factors for cognitive decline and mental health at old age

 

While older adults are at higher risk of experiencing reduced mental functions, studies have found various factors that can protect against or slow down such declines. Regular physical activity, healthy diet and cognitive training have shown strong evidence in protecting against cognitive decline.

 

Physical activity can include things as simple and fun as gardening and dancing, while cognitive training can involve puzzles, reading and even playing mahjong.

 

Managing the same risk factors of cardiovascular heart diseases – such as obesity and smoking – can also help with age-related cognitive decline.

 

In turn, some of these protective factors can also help reduce the risk of depression in older adults.

 

In Singapore, there are various government-funded programmes aimed at promoting healthy ageing which can be utilised. For example, SkillsFuture provides subsidised courses to older adults which can help with lifelong learning and cognitive training.

 

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 Cognitive functions that remain resilient despite ageing

 

Not all mental functions are affected during the normal process of brain ageing. Cognitive abilities such as vocabulary, certain components of memory such as being able to recall information based on a cue (recognition memory), remembering the sequence of events (temporal order memory) and remembering how to do something (procedural memory), and visuospatial abilities such as recognising familiar objects remain stable with age.

 

In fact, crystallised intelligence actually improves with age, as it is based on the accumulation of knowledge and information one has acquired.

 

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 Positive psychology and ageing

 

While it is important to raise awareness of the struggles that the geriatric population face, it is also important to acknowledge the positive benefits of ageing. There exist negative assumptions towards ageing and a tendency to over-emphasise on the things which older people do more poorly than younger people rather than the things they do better.

 

Older adults can contribute to the community in various ways. They possess a wealth of knowledge and life skills which they can share. Older adults are suggested to be better at regulating their emotions, they are likely to be financially independent, and have a better appreciation of life. However, their contributions are limited by the environment and culture they live in. For example, the skills which the older generation can provide are not necessarily the ones valued by the current younger generation. There is a need to change some of societal perspectives and to break down barriers that hinders older adults from their full potential.

 

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 The many older adults I have spoken to during my lifetime have always highlighted how they do not appreciate some of the negative labels being attached to older persons. They like to highlight how they have years of skills and experience which they use to mentor and guide young people. The geriatric population should be seen as a resource and not a burden.

 

All in all, we hope the articles this month have been informative about both the positive and negative benefits to ageing. While we address the struggles that older adults face, let us not forget to acknowledge the value they provide.

 

 

Written by Athena Khoo, an NTU graduate who majored in Psychology. Athena is currently working as a research assistant for NUS Department of Surgery, focusing on research on palliative care and colorectal cancer. Her hobbies include gaming, tabletop and YouTube videos.

 

 

References

 

Baumgart, M., Snyder, H. M., Carrillo, M. C., Fazio, S., Kim, H., & Johns, H. (2015). Summary of the evidence on modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia: A population-based perspective. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 11(6), 718–726. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2015.05.016

 

Plassman, B. L., Williams, J. W., Burke, J. R., Holsinger, T., & Benjamin, S. (2010). Systematic review: Factors associated with risk for and possible prevention of cognitive decline in later life. Annals of Internal medicine, 153(3), 182–193. doi:10.1059/0003-4819-153-3-201008030-00258

 

Harada, C. N., Love, M. C. N., & Triebel, K. (2013). Normal cognitive aging. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 29(4), 737–752. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2013.07.002

 

Ranzign, R. (2002). Towards a positive psychology of ageing: Potential and barriers. Australian Psychologist, 37(2), 79–85. doi:10.1080/00050060210001706716