Members and Residents at The Cedars are finding that going back to school has its advantages. It allows them to pursue interests they’ve always had or to learn something new that they were curious about but never had time for. There is the added motivation, however, from studies that suggest learning may actually help them stave off cognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s disease.
A recent article in the New York Times, Exercising an Aging Brain (March 8, 2012),
states that many studies have found exercising the brain and being mentally
active are associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Arthur Toga, a professor of neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles explains that by having an
interactive conversation, you are changing the circuitry of your brain because
the activity requires the nerve cells in your brain to fire, thereby using energy
and delivering more blood flow and oxygen to your brain tissue.
Members at The Atrium at The Cedars not only enjoy the many lectures and educational
series offerings, such as: Exploring Mind, Body and Spirit Through Creative Writing; Books That Have Made History, Books That Can Change Your Life – Plato, Phaedo and Dante, The Divine Comedy; and our many current event and discussion groups. In addition, many are enrolled in courses at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Southern Maine. A sample of spring semester offerings at OLLI include: Revisit the Lost Generation in The Great Gatsby and The Sun Also Rises; Making Tracks: A Guide for Women Exploring New Terrain; Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War; Chess for Seniors: Didactic and Performance, and many more.
Dr. Toga goes on to say that the amount of brain energy it takes to learn something new
is far greater than the amount it takes for you to do something you’re already good at. All experts agree, however, that the best scenario is to be active throughout life, not just in old age. For more information on keeping your mind active, contact our Lifestyles Director Sharon Leddy-Smart at 207-221-7100.