Articles
The Journal on Active Aging brings articles of value to professionals dedicated to older-adult quality of life. Content sweeps across the active-aging landscape to focus on education and practice. Find articles of interest by searching the article archives in three ways: Enter a keyword in the articles search bar; click on search by topic; or type a keyword or phrase in the general search bar at the top of the page.
Topic- Cognitive health
Give your brain a workout! by Peggy Buchanan, MA
The people in the walking group were bored. To keep the walk interesting, we would travel to different locations and admire the scenery, chatting while walking. Because of the range of functional abilities in the group, there was a limited number of places where we could go. But walking can get boring, so the only way to stimulate excitement was to change locations, or hope some new people joined the group so regulars had a different person to talk with.
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Keeping mentally active by Brenda Patoine
How the brain ages—and why some people’s brains hold up better than others—is a complex puzzle involving an interplay of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Scientists have spent decades tracking people’s activities and habits as they age to determine what distinguishes people who retain good mental faculties from those who fare less well. Many of these studies are ongoing, so we can expect new clues to be revealed as researchers learn more.
moreCognitive health
Cognitive rehabilitation and memory enhancement: evidence-based interventions for older adults by Rob Winningham, PhD
There is a lot of advice out there about how we can keep our minds sharp. People take fad supplements, play video games designed to improve brain functioning, and, of course, complete crossword puzzles. Many of the things people use to improve their memories, however, are not supported by scientific research. The good news is, if you look at the bigger picture, there are behaviors and interventions supported by research, and they can be succinctly summarized.
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Exercise and the aging brain by Terry Eckmann, PhD
Aging and brain health is a topic of great interest as the older-adult population continues to grow. In 1900, the average life expectancy was approximately 47 years, while today’s life expectancy is roughly 78. It is estimated that women who now reach age 65 will have an average life expectancy of almost 85 and men who make it to 65 can expect to live to 82. Longer life expectancy brings with it the need to maintain a healthy body and brain as the foundation for leading the fullest, most productive life possible.
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Brain fitness for living and aging well by Alvaro Fernandez, MA, MBA, and Pascale Michelon, PhD
What’s new in the world of brain fitness since the summer of 2009, when the Journal on Active Aging® published the article “Healthy brain aging: why we need to retool ‘Use it or lose it’?
Much, it turns out.
First, in light of growing research, we need to update our thinking from “Use it or lose it” to “Use it and keep it.” As discussed below, the opportunity at hand is not primarily about the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, it is truly about active aging.
Cognitive health
Healthy balance, brains & bones, part two: 'watering' the brain by Mary E. Sanders, PhD, FACSM, RCEP
Nancy found the phone number she needed as the doorbell rang. But after dashing to the porch, she promptly forgot what she had been doing moments before. Chances are Nancy’s forgetfulness is normal aging. Still, she can take action to help boost her brainpower, store information and stay equipped to do something with it. Smart training targets cognitive and executive function skills.
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