Thursday, January 5, 2012

For many decades Norma Roth has been educating herself and the public about brain health. During that time Roth, author of Aging Gracefully With Dignity, Integrity & Spunk; Aging Defiantly, has read scores of books, some better than others. For 2012 she urges everyone, especially members, of the Silver Generation as well as those entering "that age" including Baby Boomers to break out those ground breaking books by Erik Erikson and his wife, Joan. Vital Involvement in Old Age and The Life Cycle Completed: Extended Version both putting forth the case that growing "older is simply another phase of life—part of the life cycle and no different from the other phases." Erik Erikson, a prominent Pulitzer Prize winning psychiatrist, told us in the last century, that "this phase calls for making new plans, having new goals and taking the steps to fulfill the goals you have for this last, but important and active stage of your life."

In an era of long life, which is getting longer all the time, Roth's messages are vital for those concerned about their own mental health and that of their spouses, parents, siblings and friends. We are all scared of losing our mental capacities; in fact it is a prospect so frightening the subject is pushed into the background of our busy work-a-day world. However, we must consider it and technology will be racing forward to bring us more info and tools to extend our mental capabilities far beyond our imagining.

Roth is very pleased by increasing publication of data by researchers and scientists and respected Institutes like Johns Hopkins bringing forth studies that confirm the ability of the brain to function well into old age—actually almost until the end of life. The proliferation of articles by Neuroscientists studying the potential of the brain to maintain its function is giving a much needed data base to affirm the continued functioning of the brain into old age—we are talking into the 90's.

Norma Roth has looked to the Eriksons for an understanding of the knowledge and wisdom that becomes available at this last and valuable stage of life. Roth has written about what she calls a Personal Retrieval System (PRS)—a storehouse within the brain that stores a vast knowledge base throughout a lifetime that can be accessed, retrieved and utilized almost throughout a lifetime. Not only is the use of the knowledge within the individual brain key to keeping the brain fit, says Roth, but continuing to learn, add knowledge, and make contributions to the world in which we live has become a real probability for members of the Silver Generation of this dynamic 21st Century. The wisdom and perspective collected over a lifetime is extremely valuable; the use of stored data within your brain can allow the older generation to develop new areas beyond present perceived capabilities.

Further, there is much research suggesting that new learning is available to members of the Senior Generation as well, and also that continued use of the brain is important to the health and continuity of brain function—a great expansion of brain power for the Silver Generation through the Baby Boomers. Great literature might suffice as new learning: Shakespeare, the Bible, Plato, Socrates; or just trying to understand something extremely complex like how the nuclear secret was unlocked by scientists in the 1930s and 1940s, or exploring the mysterious world of nano technology or wonders of the universe. As "Scientific American" has suggested as well as other science reports new learning is possible and it would seem that many of the new areas of knowledge are not beyond the understanding of people as they grow older either.

This new scientific material, says Roth, should put an end to any lingering doubts about the degeneration and deterioration of the mind as we get older. Of course, many members of the Silver Generation already know this as they find new and new resources within themselves for continued learning and participation in life. The Eriksons prescient forecasting of the potential for the older generation as they made their way through their lives and developed an understanding of the continuity of brain function are extremely valuable for the dynamic members of the Silver Generation. The Eriksons foresaw the extension of longevity and predicted that extended life cycle would result in achievements and potential contributions of older people, whom Ms. Roth calls the dynamic Silver Generation, which are not yet known (expectations high!).

The proliferation of research coming out of the scientific communities now adds a wealth of data to their information in the public domain that is needed to offset the greatly outmoded, but still prevalent social attitudes and behavior patterns, says Rot that will allow more and more members of the Silver Generation through Baby Boomers to plan a life that is interesting and in which they continue to participate and contribute to the world around them.

Roth applauds the proliferation of recent articles dealing with improving your memory; exercising your memory, and using that memory. Roth agrees with brain workout, and suggests that there are many ways to utilize the brain that have value. Roth suggests, however, that this dynamic generation of the 21st Century start by looking into and tapping resources within themselves for exercising the brain—that members of the Silver Generation, start with "Treasure Hunts" within their own brain based on the long years of learning, experience, skills and abilities.

In Aging Gracefully With Dignity, Integrity & Spunk Intact: Aging Defiantly, Roth describes the wonderful world of rich experience, learning and memory that lie within each person's own memory banks: the things we learned and did not continue, but liked--even loved, but let go because life got in the way; the hobbies we pursued: miniature shipbuilding or wood working that we got pretty proficient at, but dropped along the way; the areas of music or art or reading or writing that we were interested in—all of which may well lie just beneath the surface ready to emerge. Roth calls this: finding the buried treasure within the self, and gives multiple examples in her book about "giving thought to those buried treasures, skills, abilities, knowledge bases that have been lying within you, waiting for your commands."

Erik and Joan Erikson also called the older people the "collectors of memory" and saw maturity, wisdom and perspective of older people as qualities of immense importance not only to themselves but to the community they live in, including the wider community. Today, science and research are finding that the continued use of the brain is key to keeping that brain power available throughout a lifetime; in other words, "Use It (your brain), or Lose it." Not rocket science when you think of that.

Many new games advertised as "brain games," too, are rapidly becoming available to the Silver Generation to help in the continued use of the brain. They are certainly worthwhile and welcome to supplement to expand and target individual needs, but again Roth suggests that members of the Silver Generation might want to start with the treasures they already have and build on them.

Think about it, says Roth. Reading is giving your brain a workout; studying or reviewing that interest in literature, art, philosophy or psychology or history is giving that brain a workout; discussion, clarifying and getting new information is giving your brain a workout --so many wonderful ways, (including the new tools of mind games and ones you invent yourself) at your fingertips: it gets better every day.

Roth notes that studies, like a recent one published by Yeshiva University, amply "demonstrate that continuing participation in a range of mentally stimulating activities such as that which is required for "playing chess and bridge...serve to protect the health of the brain" and also lay a foundation for continued use of the brain. Many people have been buoyed by the suggestion that "significant benefits accrue to those to those who read regularly" vastly contributing to a generation of people who, as Roth has stated, are growing older but see themselves as remain dynamic individuals seeking fully to participate in life.

Roth would add to the list of exercising the brain playing board games with grandchildren: checkers, monopoly, puzzles and even Trivial Pursuit will also serve as brain exercise. Even with holiday time past, it is a good time to renew interests in these games—most of us have a fair number of people around to play with. See how quickly games come back and moves seem almost automatic, Roth suggests. And to boot, the more complex games may be both fun and stimulating to your brain function.

And, don't forget, Roth suggests, to look at some of add on aspects of games you are familiar with like Trivial Pursuit categories that touch upon your old interests. Roth found that often the "literature" questions were answered correctly by her almost without thinking. She realized that, although, other things had gotten in the way of continued studies in that field, the information in a field she had loved and studied had stayed with her. Where does that knowledge, not used for decades come from, she mused. There is nothing like the sudden realization that you have a hidden knowledge base—not lost, not gone, but within your memory banks: highly retrievable and so very satisfying (Or, put another way stored in a data base within your Personal Retrieval System (PRS).

Be innovative, Roth suggests, hunt those treasures within the brain, and begin a joyful phase of the fulfilling life that is being predicted and granted to you by the new dynamic age. Expand old pathways; find new treasures; and exercise your brain for a long, healthy and full life.

Ms. Roth suggests members of the Silver Generation make Aging Gracefully With Dignity, Integrity & Spunk Intact; Aging Defiantly a New Year's Resolution along with the Eriksons' Vital Involvement in Old Age and The Life Cycle Completed by Erik Erikson (Extended Version) .

Material from: Vital Involvement in Old Age; The Life Cycle Completed by Erik Erikson: Extended Version with New Chapters on the Ninth Stage of Development by Joan Erikson & Aging Gracefully With Dignity, Integrity & Spunk Intact: Aging Defiantly by Norma Roth and scientific and other journals.

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