Just as physical activity keeps your body strong, mental activity keeps your mind sharp and agile. If you learn new  skills your brain continues to grow, literally. An active brain produces new connections between nerve cells that allow cells to communicate with one another. This helps your brain store and retrieve information more easily, no matter what your age.  Want some ideas of new things to try?

• Learn to play a musical instrument
• Play Scrabble, or do crossword puzzles or jigsaw puzzles, or word searches
• Play cards, rummy, bridge, cribbage, chess
• Interact with others
• Switch careers or start a new one
• Start a new hobby, such as crafts, painting, biking or bird-watching
• Learn a foreign language
• Volunteer
• Stay informed about what's going on in the world
• Read, Write in a journal
• Travel
• Draw or paint
• Quilt knit, crochet
• Play Soduko and other challenging puzzles

A mentally stimulating job, taking classes that interest you or even just reading more can help you maintain your memory longer as you age.

Tools for Healthier Lives   Stay physically active; eat right, manage stress, these and many more ideas are explained in the Mayo Clinic Tools for healthier lives.

For the relationship between an active mind and lower rates of Alzheimer's disease read the study by Dr. Robert Friedland, a neurologist at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland.

Mental Health Information
National Institute of Mental Health  Mental Health site from the National Institute of Health.  This site deals with mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, depression, and other mental illness topics.
Publications from the National Institute of Mental Health

Health Information from Power Library.  You will need a library card from a public library to access this free information.  Look at the menu heading Health/Science.  You will find pharmacy information, magazine articles, consumer health information.

Health and Medical Information from the Reference Dept of the Public Library

Susquehanna Valley Medical Resources Area hospitals and Medical  Resources Directory.  The directory lists hot lines.

Help finding information is always available at your local public library.  Use their catalog or ask for help.  For 24/7 help click on Ask a Librarian or click on Ask the Librarian - fill in Form for reference help from the Union County Library System.

Some books of interest available at the library:
Tai Chi for body, mind & spirit : a step-by-step guide to achieving physical and mental balance  
Improve your memory
Brainfit : 10 minutes a day for a sharper mind and memory  
The memory prescription  
The mature mind : the positive power of the aging brain 
Mind games : the aging brain and how to keep it healthy
Dental floss for the mind
Managing your mind : the mental fitness guide

 

                                                                                         3/1/06