Daily routines can help improve senior brain health by providing extra stability, reducing cognitive load, and easing stress and anxiety.
Around one in 10 adults who are 45 or older suffer from worsening memory loss or cognitive decline as they get older, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seniors who live at Signal Mountain in Chattanooga, TN, a scenic city located on the Tennessee River in Southeastern Tennessee, should ensure they have a daily routine that helps to strengthen brain health.
Familiar routines can be very helpful for seniors because many elderly adults experience cognitive decline as time goes on. They may also experience certain emotional and mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
According to JAMA Internal Medicine, a clinical trial showed that seniors with dementia who participated in a structured lifestyle program saw major improvements. The routine, which included changes to diet, exercise, and other healthy habits, was found to delay cognitive aging in seniors by between one and two years.
Keeping up with the demands of daily life can become difficult for seniors whose mental faculties have declined, and it can be tough for them to remain confident and happy throughout each day. Familiar routines serve as an extra backbone of support for seniors, providing stability and helping to reduce mental fatigue, easing the burdens of daily life. This can prevent confusion and inner turmoil and may help strengthen memory and cognition.
Routines are predictable and comforting and can allow seniors to always know what will happen next in the day, eliminating the stress of unexpected events. Seniors will experience a high level of structure in routine, and within this framework, can feel a higher level of independence, ease, and clarity.
Participating in the right activities can help improve a senior's brain health and allow them to feel more capable. Here are some of the top memory-friendly living activities that a senior should add to their active aging routine.
Maintaining healthy habits as part of a routine is essential for seniors who want to live well and feel their best as they age. A senior should ensure that their routine includes time for nutritious meals, regular exercise, and quality sleep.
Adding time for playing games to a routine isn't a bad idea and can provide some excellent cognitive benefits. Seniors should especially consider making time to play brain games such as crossword puzzles, Sudoku, puzzles, and chess to experience the best brain health benefits.
Seniors who embrace lifelong learning are likely to experience major cognitive benefits by doing so, so it's a good idea for seniors to add space for some kind of mental engagement into their routines. Making time for hobbies, reading, learning languages, or learning about various subjects can be well worth it.
Finding ways to enjoy music can be a great way to strengthen brain health. Learning to play an instrument, spending time singing, and listening to music are all ways to engage with this art form and may provide major benefits. The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation even reports that one study showed that seniors who listened to music consistently reduced dementia risk by nearly 40 percent.
Socializing can provide some big brain benefits, so it's a good idea for seniors to make spending time with others part of a regular routine. Socializing can help provide intellectual stimulation. It may also provide a sense of peace and some senior mental health benefits.
Rather than helping improve brain wellness, certain habits can harm brain function and lead to cognitive decline. Some of the top things that are known to hurt brain function include:
When a senior begins to decline cognitively, certain signs will appear. One of the most common signs a senior may display, often before other signs, is short-term memory loss.
Seniors may begin to find it more difficult to remember things that they were just told, or they may forget where they placed items, such as car keys. Speaking to other people may become more difficult as they need the other person to repeat themselves often. Similarly, they may also fail to find the words they're looking for in conversation.
There are other signs of cognitive decline as well. Some common signs of failing brain health include:
Some types of cognitive decline can be reversed, but others can't. Whether cognitive decline can be reversed or not is dependent on the cause. For example, cognitive decline that was caused by a nutritional deficiency, such as a lack of certain vitamins, can usually be dealt with, and the symptoms can be reversed if the correct changes are made.
If cognitive decline was caused by a disease such as Alzheimer's, however, reversal isn't possible. Despite this, the advancement of the disease can be slowed down if the right actions are taken. Certain lifestyle improvements can help make a difference in either type of cognitive decline, and doing so can be well worth the effort.
Seniors living in Chattanooga, TN, should be sure to understand the connection between routine and cognition. A daily routine can help improve a senior's cognitive health by providing more stability, reducing cognitive load, and helping relieve stress and anxiety.
Signal Mountain Senior Living is a great senior living choice in Chattanooga. With independent living, assisted living, and memory care options, and amenities including an on-site beauty salon, a theater room, a wellness studio, and a full social calendar, seniors find a lot to love at Signal Mountain.
Ready to make the move to senior living? Get in touch with us today to learn more about what Signal Mountain offers Chattanooga seniors.