Page 145 - Mind Games The Aging Brain and How to Keep it Healthy

Support the Aging Brain • 129

The younger you are when you begin to plan for aging,
the healthier and more active you will be mentally and
physically for more years. However, as the old saying goes,
Better later than never. Don’t wait until tomorrow or next
week to start. Determine today that you are going to take
charge of how you age and not just accept whatever hap-
pens to you. Only 35 percent of how you age is determined
by genetics; the rest is determined by your lifestyle, envi-
ronment, and other factors—many of which you can control
and alter.

PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF AGING

As we age, our sensations and perceptions, our “bridges” to
the world, may change and begin to decline. Some of our abil-
ities to interact with and interpret the world correctly then
may be dependent on our ability to perceive the world accu-
rately and efficiently. As a matter of fact, some researchers
believe that most of the declines traditionally attributed to
senior’s cognitive abilities are actually the result of inaccura-
cies in obtaining and processing information through our five
senses. The following discussion describes each of the five
2
senses, our physical support structure, sleep requirements,
and reaction times as they affect our mental abilities.

Vision
The single most important thing you can do for your eye-
sight is to get an eye exam every one to two years. If you are
a visual learner, sight is your primary mechanism for gath-
ering information. Inaccuracies in judgments may be the re-
sult of erroneously perceived information. It is imperative
that you have regular eye exams. Not only do you need
someone to prescribe the proper corrective lenses, but early
detection of diseases such as glaucoma and macular degen-
eration is essential to reduce damage.

A profound loss of vision is not normal.