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Experts told how to keep a clear mind in the 'silver' age
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Every year on July 22, World Brain Day is celebrated. Its goal is to increase people's attention to health issues of the most important and most mysterious part of the human body. Scientists are sure: the more active the brain works, the better it is preserved. The intensive functioning of the brain allows a person not only to become successful and efficient in any activity, but also to maintain a clear mind, cheerfulness at an older age.
I bet if anyone tested it, it would turn out that reading Rantburg is as helpful as doing crossword puzzles or Sudoku. Perhaps it should be translated into Russian, though not by badanov, who is busy.
In Russia , the national project "Demography" helps older people to stay active and keep their body and brain in good shape . Thanks to the national project initiated by President Vladimir Putin,
(PBUH)
thousands of different practices of active longevity are being developed in different regions of our country, helping to maintain physical, social and mental activity at an older age.

With the support of the Demography national project, the All-Russian selection of the best practices for active longevity is held annually. In 2023, out of 923 applications received for selection, experts selected 113 different projects for replication, 39 of them aimed at restoring and maintaining mental health.

Vologda neuropsychologist, organizer of the Silver Age – think, act, live! Varvara Chernysheva believes that the best way to maintain the usual rhythm of life is to learn new activities. For her initiative, she chose three areas: gymnastics for the brain, physical activity and an active social life.

“Mind gymnastics helps to train attention, memory and thinking, including in the process of mastering new activities. When a person learns unfamiliar difficult material, he forms new neural connections.

The second mandatory direction is physical activity. When a person leads a healthy lifestyle and maintains physical activity, this has a very positive effect on brain function and mental health, ” the psychologist explained. According to Varvara Chernysheva, an active social life helps prevent the development of dementia and other mental changes.

“With age, a person becomes less socially active, it is more difficult for him to find a new social circle. This leads to social isolation, loneliness and consequent depression. This is one of the causes of dementia and Alzheimer's disease,” the expert emphasized.

Project teacher Marina Bryzgalo says that she herself is in the “silver” age and understands what is happening to her students. “I understand the psychological problems they face. Very many, only having come to these classes, realize the degree of age-related processes that they have already begun, ” the teacher explained.

One of the participants in the practice, Svetlana Petrova , says that she underwent a serious brain operation 10 years ago. “I have a difficult diagnosis, but in the classroom I forget about my illness, about dizziness. I try to load memory all the time. It helps me a lot,” says Svetlana. “I always worried that dementia would come at an age. And now I feel: she does not threaten me,” said another participant in the project Antonina Marashova.

In Priozersk, Leningrad Region, participants in another finalist project in the selection of best practices “From fitness for the mind to active longevity” are engaged in the prevention of mental health disorders using a complex of eight programs. They help older people reduce risk factors for cerebrovascular accidents, activate all parts of the brain, improve visual and auditory memory, attention and fine motor skills.

“The project helps to prolong active longevity without memory impairment. We have developed effective, interesting and understandable methods, exercises, trainings. Their daily use contributes to the prevention of cognitive disorders. Older people act here both as mentors and as volunteers - they set an example and help newcomers adapt,” said Natalya Naumenko, director of the Priozersk Integrated Center for Social Services for the Population .

Neuroscientists and psychologists are convinced that mental health at an older age depends on how fine motor skills are developed in a person. Therefore, to prevent dementia, participants regularly do finger exercises under the guidance of an instructor.
Piano, for example, or typing on a computer keyboard, though I’ve no doubt the occupational therapists would add crochet and embroidery to the list.
Older people are also treated by a rehabilitation specialist. In order to detect dementia in the early stages and begin treatment, during cognitive training, the instructor and his mentee together identify developing absent-mindedness and frequent mood swings.

The project participants are also involved in neuroscience, an innovative technology aimed at stimulating human intellectual activity with the help of puzzles and rebuses. Exercise helps to better concentrate and learn new knowledge, support brain function and avoid memory deterioration.

In the Samara region, participants in the Healthy Longevity project are engaged in the prevention of cognitive disorders. With the support of social workers, older people do adaptive physical education, breathing exercises, brain exercises, exercises to preserve memory, attention and thinking.

One of the main methods of practice is the Makaton language program, which combines sounding speech, gestures and pictures-symbols. Makaton language helps to communicate with older people with communication difficulties, those who find it difficult to pronounce words and perceive speech. “Our project increases the availability of cognitive assistance for older people. Under the supervision of trained social workers, they perform regular exercises at home to preserve memory, attention, and thinking. Ultimately, this helps to strengthen their mental health and prevent dementia, ” said Galina Peyl, director of the Center for Social Services for the Population of the Northern District .
Songs are stored in a different part of the brain than spoken language, so people can communicate via singing even after they’ve lost the connection to speaking.
Alla Galtsova, a participant in the Healthy Longevity project, notes that the classes helped her develop physical activity and improve her well-being.

“I enjoy spending my leisure time, reading books, solving crossword puzzles. I enjoy doing physical exercises. Thank you for the project,” she shared.

Another Healthy Longevity participant, Nadezhda Tetebinova, is taking brain and breathing exercises together with social worker Svetlana Tikhonova . She says that she began to feel much better: her blood pressure improved, shortness of breath decreased, absent-mindedness went away.

“My wards are satisfied and happy with these activities. They have increased intelligence, improved mood, there is a desire to move more. It's nice to watch when they are in a good mood, smiling, enjoying life , ”says Svetlana Tikhonova.

As IA Regnum reported , the All-Russian selection of the best practices for active aging is held annually with the support of the Demography national project. Over the year, the number of participating regions increased to 59, and the number of applications increased one and a half times - from 689 to 923.
All gratitude to Tsar Vladimir Putin I, great father of his people!


Posted by: badanov 2023-07-22
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=673245