Explanation of how the brain and life skills degrade with age, especially as seen in Alzheimer's patients - Strategies for Staying Healthy. Also refer to children, grown, birth, death, senior, elderly, medications, exercise, activity, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Degradation of the Brain with Age
by Ron Kurtus (7 July 2002)
Just as a child learns various life skills as their brain develops, elderly people face a degradation of those skills due to the brain not functioning as well as before. This can be seen most distinctly in patients with Alzheimer's disease. They are essentially living life in reverse. Many people in their senior years can delay the mental degradation process by remaining active.
Questions you may have include:
- How do life skills degrade with age?
- What are solutions for Alzheimer's patients?
- What are solutions for senior citizens?
This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson. Health Disclaimer
Comparing life skills
The following chart compares how the life skills of a child increase with age, while the same skills decrease in an Alzheimer's patient. These skills also decrease in the same manner as a person ages, although usually the person would die of some other disease before reaching the moderately severe stage of an Alzheimer's patient.
Child Development Approximate Age |
Acquired abilities in child development |
Stage after contracting Alzheimer's |
12 or older |
Hold a job |
3 - Incipient |
8-12 |
Handle simple finances |
4 - Mild |
5-7 |
Select proper clothing |
5 - Moderate |
5 |
Put on clothes unaided |
6 - Moderately severe |
4 |
Shower unaided |
|
4 |
Toilet unaided |
|
3-4 1/2 |
Control urine |
|
2-3 |
Control bowels |
|
15 months |
Speak 5-6 words |
7 - Severe |
1 year |
Speak 1 word |
|
1 year |
Walk |
|
6-10 months |
Sit up |
|
2-4 months |
Smile |
|
1-3 months |
Hold up head |
|
Birth |
|
Death |
Source: Barry Reisberg, Silberstein Aging & Dementia Research Center, NYU
Alzheimer solutions
There really isn't much that can be done about the degradation of the brain and associated skills that come with old age if the person is inflicted with a disease such as Alzheimer's. Medical science is working on drugs and therapies that can delay this process.
Activity can delay process
Other people who are in their senior years can delay this process through maintaining their health and staying as physically and mentally active as possible.
The brain is like a muscle, and exercising it will help to maintain knowledge and skills. Physical activity allows a person to be able to perform the various tasks, as well as providing amble blood supply to the brain.
Summary
Elderly people face a degradation of various life skills due to the brain not functioning as well as before. This is especially true for Alzheimer's disease patients. They are essentially living life in reverse. Many people can delay the mental degradation process by remaining active.
Exercise and stay young
Resources
The following are resources on this subject.
Websites
Barry Reisberg, Silberstein Aging & Dementia Research Center, NYU
Books
Top-rated
books on General Health
Mini-quiz to check your understanding
If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in being Healthy. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.
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Degradation of the Brain with Age