Page 210 - Mind Games The Aging Brain and How to Keep it Healthy

194 • Chapter 6

Photo courtesy of Henry Ortega

Older and Wiser

Victoria Mok is a vivacious woman full of bubbling laughter at
84 years of age. She took piano lessons as a young girl in China,
but after she married and began her family of five children, Victo-
ria did not continue to practice. As she and her husband grew old
together, he often suggested that she continue playing to keep her
mind sharp (he was ahead of his time). After he passed away, Vic-
toria began playing the piano for her Sunday school class to help
out and also to follow her husband’s advice. She’s really enjoying
herself. This turns out to be a mutual benefit to her and her Sun-
day school class.

or on the Internet. See Appendix C, “Using the Web for Life-
long Learning,” to learn how to do this. Learn to laugh and
enjoy life again.

PROTECTING YOUR BRAIN
Now it is appropriate to discuss strategies for dealing with
some health issues that are associated with aging—stroke,
Alzheimer’s disease, doctors, and medications.
As you age, it becomes more likely that you or someone
you know will have a stroke, sometimes referred to as a brain