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How do some old people stay sharp? Irish doctor may know secret

By
Donal Thornton,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 8:29 AM
Updated Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 9:00 AM

 

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Active minds lead to a more enjoyable lifestyle

An Irish scientist and his team of researchers have discovered how some old people stay sharp and smart.

Dr John Foxe graduated from University College Dublin and is now leading a research team at at the Nathan Kline Research Institute in Orangeburg, New York.

Speaking to the Irish Times, Dr Foxe said he wanted to find out what was "special" about the elderly that were as "sharp as a tack."

"With older people you get a lot of variance. Some get doddery but with others you say, ‘He is as good as he ever was," said Dr Foxe.
 
Dr Foxe and his colleague, Dr Pierfilippo De Sanctis, assumed that the brains of sharper pensioners remained youthful and escaped deterioration with age or else some elderly brains were able to reorganize and deal with ageing.
 
The researchers studied the brain wave activity (EEG) of groups of people with an average age of 75.
 
Each subject was asked to do two tasks at the same time. The tasks included mathematical and alphabetical tasks. The subjects were asked to switch back and forth between these tasks. 

Dr Foxe said that many old people found it difficult to switch between tasks.

"You can switch your attention around easily, but the elderly have a problem with this. Using EEG we could watch the brain switch between these tasks.”

Dr Foxe soon realized that though the sharper subject’s brains were aged, they had been able to overcome difficulties by making fresh use of the frontal lobes.

“What we found was their brains had been substantially reorganized. What they had been able to do is compensate by reorganizing,” added the Irishman.
 
 Dr Foxe was hopeful that other people could learn to make better use of their frontal lobes as they age.
 
“If these folks can learn the trick, then we may be able to find how to teach others to do it. What is good about this is we can objectively measure this. We can see if we can take people in the lower-performing bracket and move them up to a higher bracket.”

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14 Comments

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Posted by SharonW on Dec 23, 2009, 09:53 AM EST
Feldenkreis is a good way to stimulate the brain out of its lethargy. Slow, small movements coerce the brain to make new neural pathways. And it is good for balance and movement at every age.
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Posted by Liamkeyes on Dec 21, 2009, 04:08 PM EST
The secret is to remain active, Follow your local Football Team even if they are lovable losers,anything just keep the brain functioning.
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Posted by jclarkin on Dec 17, 2009, 04:58 PM EST
I think that....uh...I forgot.
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Posted by PhillyUSA on Dec 16, 2009, 08:26 PM EST
I totally agree with the other comments. How about some brain exercise examples. Puzzles, reading? I still work in an office to try to keep my brain sharp. Exercise, stay active, socialize.
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Posted by Watereskhill on Dec 16, 2009, 08:21 PM EST
I have no desire to age in this manner. To 'switch back and forth' with acumen from whatever lobe and grin at a hedge (as in the photo)It was enough in my twenties to be 'as sharp as a tack' to get a job and cow-toe to the system since. Dithering about holds an enchantment I look forward to. I don't need to decipher mathematics from parsley till the day I croak.
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Posted by johnsheehy on Dec 16, 2009, 02:44 PM EST
Interesting but how does one reorganize the frontal ... are there mental exercises to do that would help?
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Posted by KAOS13AL on Dec 16, 2009, 01:22 PM EST
WOULD BE NICE IF THE ARTICLE HAD GONE INTO DETAIL ABOUT HOW ONE GOES ABOUT USING & STRENGTHENING THE FRONTAL LOBES..."IF PEOPLE LEARN THE TRICK..." SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THE TRICK(S)? ANOTHER WHIPPED CREAM ARTICLE W/O THE CAKE!!!! WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF THE WRITER ACTUALLY DID THEIR JOB RIGHT & GAVE US THE NEEDED INFO THEY ALLUDE TO...FROM AL IN STL
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Posted by Reilleyfam on Dec 16, 2009, 01:13 PM EST
UH, HOW?!!! How did they reorganize?? This is like telling me about a great meal and then not giving me the recipe!
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Posted by FastEddy on Dec 16, 2009, 12:27 PM EST
Excellent! ... Brain exercises = increasing brain stamina, acuity ... How about reading economics text book, then mowing the lawn? Better: reading Irish Central with a critical eye, then bowling?
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Posted by jemandjudy on Dec 16, 2009, 10:25 AM EST
I'm using my frontal lobe right now in preparing for a marketing meeting with a group of arts and crafts people. And it's Judi, no y! Jem
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Posted by mollymcgee on Dec 16, 2009, 10:21 AM EST
Good Grief, sharpness is found in a daily dose of laughter.....and telling `guilt for what we cant` control to Take A Walk!
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Posted by MotherIrish on Dec 16, 2009, 10:10 AM EST
so post the tests so we can stay sharp too. Thanks
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Posted by pattyfirz on Dec 16, 2009, 09:44 AM EST
Great news, a possible help for us in our 70's. Go Doctors !
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Posted by jagwahs on Dec 16, 2009, 08:51 AM EST
interesting
 


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