The Aging Mind

Aging is blamed for a lot of things that may have nothing to do with the number of years we have lived. Over the years, a neighbor and I have made a habit of discussing the books we read, trying to keep our choices eclectic as much as possible. Recently, she told me she had decided to stop reading complaining that her aging mind was acting up. Since she is in her early sixties, I thought the characterization a little pejorative, but nevertheless listened to her reasoning. “I can’t concentrate anymore,” she whined. “I have to keep rereading the same page to remember what the book is all about.”

          The more we talked, the more I began to understand that her reading choices of late had not been judicious, and she was finding the subjects dull and boring. No wonder she had to keep on rereading everything.  It had nothing to do with age, but rather all to do with her mind not being fully utilized and therefore unable to avoid wandering. She is reading once again paying more attention to the type of material that can hold her interest.

           Memory is blamed for things that may have nothing to do with aging. “I keep forgetting things,” people say. Or as a friend says: “I have these brain farts!”

            Instead of simply thinking that you’re on your way to dementia, why not try to assess—and correct—why you might be forgetting things. Here are some examples I read about recently:

 -Are you absent-minded because you’re still trying to do ten things at the same time? If so, you might simply be over-loading your thoughts;

 --Are you bored with your life and a little depressed? Why not try to make small changes that will brighten your outlook.

 -Are you preoccupied by a personal problem? If your mind keeps wandering to something that’s upsetting you, it limits your ability to focus on other things.

 -Are you grieving? Grieving the loss of a spouse, a friend, a pet, or facing an empty nest, can play havoc with our ability to remember things. Time and a friendly ear might be needed to accept a new reality.

 -Are you lonely? If your family and friends have scattered you might be wallowing in loneliness which might well affect your memory. Why not try to make new friends by going out more or joining a group to meet people with the same interests.

 -Are you disorganized? Some people think they’ll be able to remember things without jotting anything down. Big mistake. We all need reminders of medical and dental appointments, for example, since many are made weeks in advance and can be forgotten at any age. The use of an agenda to keep track of things that must be done, big things and small things as well, can make life more pleasant.

             Now, what was I suppose to do this afternoon?