In all the history of humankind, there has never been a better time to be old. Learn why these headlines are good news? More role models for healthy, productive aging. The global population is aging. Neuroplasticity: your friend for life. Practical things you can do to maintain and improve cognitive wellness as you age.

1. Good News for Aging Brains
In all the history of humankind, there has never been a better time to be old.

3. Oxford Institute of Population Ageing Global survey of 40,000 people. Many of the views of aging are based on myths.

4. The Myth of Senility
The Myth of Disability
The Myth of Homogeneity
The Myth of Lonely Isolation
The Myth of Dependency
The Rocking Chair Myth
The Myth of Inability
The Myth of Retirement
http://transgenerational.org/aging/demographics.htm

5. Older brains are better than younger brains when it comes to:
• Stored knowledge
• Experience
• Problem solving
• Social intelligence
• Emotional intelligence
• Mental and emotional stability
• More effective use of both hemispheres of the brain
• Pattern detection

6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fn4tnYonpw
This is Ray Jessel, 84 years old, performing on America’s Got Talent.

9. In Thailand by 2030
17.7 million people aged 60+
Nearly one third of the population

10. An aging world is good news because: more research on aging.
More research = new and better drugs, new treatments, new insights into the aging process.

12. Weighs 1.3 – 1.4 kg (about 3 pounds)
160, 000 km of blood vessels; 750-1000 ml/min Generates enough electricity to power a small light bulb Uses 20% of the oxygen you breath in

13. In the Milky Way Galaxy, about 100 billion stars.

14. In the human brain, 100 billion neurons.

15. A typical neuron

16. 1 neuron can have 1,000 to 10,000 connections to other neurons
for over 100 trillion possible connections
Neurons connect up into ‘circuits’ that do things, just like this electronic circuit for a motion detector. We have motion detector circuits in several areas of the brain. We now know that the brain can make new neurons and is constantly altering the circuits, constantly rewiring itself.

17. Neuroplasticity Changes in neural pathways and synapses due to changes in behavior, environment, neural processes, thinking, emotions, as well as changes resulting from bodily injury. Neuroplasticity occurs on a variety of levels, ranging from cellular changes due to learning, to large-scale changes involved in cortical remapping in response to injury. The brain changes throughout life. Right up to the end. This gives us clues about what we can do to maintain or even improve cognitive function as we age.

18. Countless studies show a strong correlation between physical activity and cognitive function.

20. Brain training games to exercise Brain Matrix (free) http://www.brainmetrix.com/
Executive functions
High-level cognitive processes:
• working memory
• reasoning
• task flexibility
• problem solving
• planning and execution Which allow you to:
• quickly process and retain information
• regulate your behaviour
• make good choices
• solve problems
• plan and adjust to changing mental demands

21. Lumosity (USD 80/yr) www.lumosity.com/ My personal favorite brain training platform.

22. Shows how I compare to thousands of other people in my age group.

24. Learn to juggle
Older brains can actually grow with the right amount of stimulation. In a study published in 2008, University of Hamburg neuroscientist Janika Boyle tried to teach novice subjects between the ages of 50 and 67 to juggle. While none of them became adept jugglers, scans showed that just like younger subjects, the older brains developed increased grey matter.

26. Sing
Young@Heart is an entertainment group created by and for the elderly, comprised at present of people at least 70 years of age. Singing is good for body, spirit and brain. See their movie trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjnfoFg7i7g