Thursday, December 8, 2011

Norma Roth, author of Aging Gracefully With Dignity, Integrity and Spunk Intact: Aging Defiantly, has been getting a boost for her original concept of the Personal Retrieval System from recent medical research into the brain function. There is nothing like having your decades of work reaffirmed from outside sources, so Roth has been loudly applauding the relatively recent proliferation of research, studies and application of studies to the aging process and in particular continuity of "memory" from ever-more widely respected Institutes like Johns Hopkins and Yeshiva University that more and more indicate findings both that memory can function throughout a lifetime and also that "memory can improve as we age." Roth sees this as a necessary impetus to the continued development of members of the Silver Generation as well as those entering "that age" and those over 50 as well who are becoming unduly concerned about the loss of any signs of mental acuity.

Roth has taken these findings and concepts a step further: In her book on Aging Gracefully With Dignity, Integrity & Spunk Intact: Aging Defiantly Roth has suggested that within each mind has there is a Personal Retrieval System (PRS) where data has been stored data from a lifetime and, like a computer, can be accessed, retrieved and build upon as one advances in age. The Silver Generation can benefit from this because they can learn to retrieve data long stored and build on foundations they already have; while the Baby Boomers can benefit from filling their personal computer within the brain with a knowledge base that is without limits and confidence that they can already draw upon that base from gitgo!

Well documented research of the type that is coming out from institutions mentioned and many of the leading Universities as well as a compilation of advances in Neuroscience findings available from the Society for Neuroscience (NfS,) says Roth, is providing the much needed underpinnings and impetus to encourage people to continue using their minds over a lifetime that Roth has been advocating in her book Aging Gracefully With Dignity, Integrity & Spunk Intact: Aging Defiantly.

Roth also sets forth a far more suitable paradigm for the 21st Century based on the educational model of a system that many of the Silver Generation as well as those `"entering that age," and the outstanding Baby Boomer Generation were schooled in that comports with the findings of science and medicine regarding the availability of information learned and relearned and reinforced that can be both accessible to individuals regardless of age and used as a foundation for continued growth.

Fortunately, the educational system in play for most members of the Silver Generation through the Baby Boomers who are now hitting age 65 was one of learning, testing, learning, re-enforcing based on a pedagogical concept that repetition, repetition, repetition had an a objective the learning of material so well that it would be always available to draw from memory banks in the mind. Although they may have exactly described it in these terms, Roth asks: What would their objective have been with the constant repetition of material and testing if not to reinforce the data for use for a lifetime?

She recalls, on a lighter note, the early concerts of Peter, Paul & Mary, where Peter introduces songs with tidbits of information one of which were the elements of every single children's song, the main one being, of course?repetition. Many of us remember learning that way -- and not only as a child but throughout our education?which, according to continued findings of research is revealing a great deal of data has been instilled in our memory banks.

Drawing on that intense learning model, the Education Paradigm purport positive outcomes for members of the Silver Generation through the Baby Boomers. Thus the advances in scientific research regarding the continued usage of brain suggest to Roth that the possibilities for continued thinking and learning are both limitless in possibilities and readily available to those who will not accept less.

Roth is excited over the new research because it encourages a new thinking about the memory, a much needed positive attitude that will can alleviate much of the present fears and panic over the natural aging process, allowing members of the Silver Generation to access their extensive long term memory banks and those while those over 50?once they understand the process (which shouldn't taken long)?will be able to also concentrate on building a better memory bank by storing more and more important and significant data that can be accessed, retrieved and utilized over a lifetime.

Roth notes that recent findings that "memory can improve as we age," are providing the much needed underpinnings to encourage people to continue using their minds over a lifetime that Roth has been advocating for years in her book Aging Gracefully With Dignity, Integrity & Spunk Intact: Aging Defiantly. Roth sees the aging process today as being at the vanguard of an incredible age which will be giving people limitless opportunities for continued use of the brain with results that can only be speculated upon.

The individual understanding of how the mind works and how one inputs data within a lifetime that remains accessible, Roth believes, is key to a potential power base that is seemingly without limits, it would seem that what is done with this newly and astounding scientific and medical power base will depend on what an individual wants to do?the opportunities appear limitless.

She applauds the reality recent proliferation of research and material from leading institutes that are widely respected science, medical and research groups for the growing circulation of new advances into the public domain on a continuing and ever-widening basis

The findings of the scientific and medical communities play a valuable role in creating a new climate and the opportunity for a new and active phase of life to be planned for the largest growing demographic group in this country. Current and future scientific and medical data give large support the denial of the inevitability of what many members of the Silver Generation have referred to as the "rocking chair" and out-to-pastures syndrome long seen as the only path available after a certain age as simply no longer acceptable.

Further, the results of these findings allowing the Baby Boom to get a needed understanding of how the wealth within their brain provides an opportunity to store limitless amounts of data, and the ability to store, access, retrieve and utilize that data throughout their lifetime?with confidence to turn away from a growing concern and fear of mental decline.

Roth sees the positive research on continued brain usages today as being at the vanguard of an incredible age which will give limitless opportunities for the continued use of the brain for all ages?with potential results, achievements and contribution that can only be speculated upon. This new age of brain power, Roth believes, will be the hallmark of the 21st Century

Here is a review of Norma Roth's book, Aging Gracefully With Dignity, Integrity and Spunk Intact: Aging Defiantly.



As I read Aging Gracefully With Dignity, Integrity & Spunk Intact: Aging Defiantly by Norma Roth, I soon found myself reading the words as her cheerleader. More! I wanted to read more about the subject! The information she presents is a result of research, personal experiences, and the desire to help debunk many myths about aging that she considers to be "hogwash." She refers to the aging population as the "Silver Generation," encouraging them to take charge of their lives by refusing to be controlled by exaggerated fears and negative thinking. Ms. Roth discusses how "that" generation can live productive, fulfilling lives into their seventies, eighties, and nineties. After all, they have a vast amount of knowledge, experience and expertise to draw from--a storage retrieval system. Her writing is full of wit and wisdom and describes "the art and not the agony of growing older."

Although I am a member of the Silver Generation, when I burn food that I am preparing, forget where I place an item, or ask myself why I've gone into a room to get an article, it is my opinion that, with aging, I am simply paying more attention to my own behavioral patterns, fearing that others may think I'm "losing it." But, if seniors think about it, most will admit that they did the same things in their earlier years--perhaps not as often but, nevertheless, they did them.

The author reinforces this concept, telling our generation not to panic; she provides some simple suggestions to avoid such distractions and occurrences. As far as absentmindedness, she turns a negative into a positive, citing Albert Einstein as an absentminded genius. Instead of being absentminded, she explains that our minds are full of things we have learned and not on matters of the moment. Rather than planning for when we are put out to pasture, we need to plan for life! One way to do that is to test the concept of a storage retrieval system.

The second part of the book discusses how to unleash this Personal Retrieval System by going on a treasure hunt within one's self. The journey will take readers down familiar paths as they access and retrieve stored information that can be utilized to live fuller and more productive lives. The author offers the Silver Generation some basic rules for success in harnessing the power of the brain to access this information. As I continued to read, I began thinking about the piano lessons that I had taken as a young child. My sister, who also took lessons, became quite a musician; however, I quit after only a year. It was a decision I regretted in adulthood; therefore, a few days ago, I purchased some lesson books from our local music store and began practicing again.

Little by little, what I learned as a child is coming back to me, and I now plan to build on that foundation. The author, obviously much more talented in this area than me, tells a similar story; this is what gave me the courage to try again. If you think it is impossible to learn something new, Norma Roth says that such thinking is hogwash. (I love how she uses that word throughout her book.) Science suggests new brain cells might just be available for new learning. As we age, we must "use it or lose it." There are endless opportunities for the Silver Generation when members choose to empower themselves. Admittedly there may be physical challenges along the way, so it is very important not to cheat on nutrition, vitamins, or sleep.

Do you want to know how to deal with the "word supplier" and the "word corrector"? What about the finisher of sentences, or looks given that are meant to embarrass you? How do you handle a disrupter? The author addresses these situations and gives examples of appropriate responses to those who might try to intimidate you. Yesterday, I used one of those responses and found it very effective.

I cannot stress how important I think this book is to society as a whole. It is easy to understand and well written with some repetition for emphasis. Even those who are not presently part of the Silver Generation will, barring unfortunate circumstances, continue to age. This book will help prepare them for a long and fulfilling life. I give Aging Gracefully my highest recommendation and consider it a "must read."

An Independent Professional Reviewer.

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