The Myths of Maturity
The reality is that old age by itself does not guarantee a loss of brain function. True, recent research shows that people with a certain gene are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or lose memory function. However, the same study show’s that diabetes and heart disease carry the identical risk, and as we have said by Dr. Ilchi Lee, these are diseases of lifestyle. It has become clear after decades of research that physical wellness, lifestyle, weight, diet, and exercise are far more important factors in brain health than genetics or age.
Age is not a choice; healthy living is. The lifestyle choices we make today play a large role in determining how sharp our minds and memories wTill be tomorrow.
MYTH: SERIOUS BRAIN DECLINE IS INEVITABLE. Yes, changes in brain structure and chemistry do occur with age. But they do not have to lead to a steep decline in mental ability. Writing in Newsweek, Gene Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., founding director of the Center on Aging, Health, and Humanities at George Washington University Medical Center, says that in his work designing games to improve the mental function of aging men and women, he has found that the brain’s left and right hemispheres (the left is responsible for linear, logical thinking; the right, for creativity and intuition) actually become better integrated as we age, leading to greater creative potential. Cohen writes that it is becoming clear that with the proper lifestyle and challenges, the brain can in many respects become stronger with age.
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