The Cabana at Jensen Dunes
Assisted Living and Memory Support
Every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease. And with June being Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, we thought it fitting to share insight on how socialization can help keep the mind sharp as we age.
According to an article by AARP, Denise Park, a psychologist and director of the Productive Aging Laboratory at the Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas, Dallas, hypothesized that “social interaction, like mental exercises and learning, may limit the amount of time that the aging brain can remain unfocused, in a day-dream like state.” Therefore, “older people have more difficulty switching between daydreaming and focused attention to important details. So, the more time the aging brain spends mentally stimulated and socially engaged, the easier it is to perform daily tasks.”
However, in the article, neurologist and director of the Rush University Disease Center in Chicago, David Bennett, M.D. goes on to explain that “even that most socially engaged among us are likely to have some changes in the structures of our brains.”
So, it’s important to remember that staying socially active isn’t a cure-all – but rather a necessary step to help prevent or delay memory loss. Bennett goes on to state that “if you have a disease that is destroying your thought processing networks, the guy with the more efficient network is going to be better off.”
When your loved one moves to a community like The Cabana at Jensen Dunes, they are likely to live longer, more fulfilled lives in a social, active environment. To experience a day in the life of someone with dementia, stop by the Virtual Dementia Tour presented by Senior Helpers of the Treasure Coast and Second Wind Dreams tomorrow at The Cabana.