The decline in social, physical and intellectual activity in old age is one of the factors for the rapid decline in intelligence itself. Accordingly, to ensure its safety, the brain must be constantly forced to work. The physical state of health does not always make it possible to do what one would like. Nevertheless, you can always find activities that would be both to your liking and strength, if you wish. The more diverse and multidirectional the activity of an elderly person, the longer his thinking and memory will be preserved.
Old age is accompanied by completely natural biological processes of the gradual fading of memory, attention, and, along with them, intellectual activity. However, some very simple methods can be used to maintain intellectual activity in old age.
Healthy lifestyle
First of all, of course, this concerns physical activity and minimizing alcohol. Alcohol does great damage to brain cells, killing them in hundreds of thousands. Of course, to replace dead brain cells, new cells do not come. This is a long established fact. Other cells take on the functions of dead cells. And yet, alcohol is not the best "life partner" in old age.
Physical activity, especially in the fresh air, walks, physical education and sports
all this is connected with the so-called "large motor skills", i.e. with the movement of arms, legs, body. Any movements make the brain work actively, stimulating the work of brain cells, maintaining connections between them.
Proper nutrition, providing the body with vitamins, minerals, trace elements - is also an important aspect of this issue. Of course, taking multivitamins will not be amiss. But in this case, you need to consult with a therapist. Perhaps he will recommend some nootropic drugs.
Intelligent workload
Of course, by age, memory is noticeably worse in many people. But if you constantly train it, then these processes will significantly slow down. In addition, in old age, when there is enough free time, you can devote it to a variety of interesting and exciting activities that previously did not have enough time. Any activity will be useful: the study of foreign languages, sciences, poetry, songs, etc. Some pensioners attend various clubs and circles for the elderly, creative studios, and veteran choirs. A lot of various events are carried out in their circle by such public organizations as the Union of Pensioners or the Society of Persons with Disabilities.
Recently, modern libraries are no longer limited to providing access to literature and periodicals (newspapers, magazines). On their basis, in fact, full-fledged cultural and leisure centers have been formed. Various events are held in the libraries: lectures, seminars, amateur concerts, literary evenings, etc. Every year, a Biblical Night is held throughout the country, similar in content to the Night of Museums. In addition, libraries provide access to the Internet. This is very convenient for those pensioners who would like to make friends with a computer, but do not have the opportunity to purchase it and pay for network access services.
Fine motor skills
The movement of the fingers, hands - this is fine motor skills. The brain centers that control these movements are located near the centers of speech. Therefore, making movements with fingers, a person stimulates the center of speech in the brain.
Doing some kind of needlework: drawing, knitting, embroidery, papier-mâché, kazans, lace weaving, sewing, sculpting, etc., you stimulate several parts of the brain at once. Needlework also helps to support processes such as spatial thinking, imagination, and motor memory. Playing a musical instrument is also a suitable activity in this sense. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to diversify your fine motor skills, which are involved in ordinary everyday life in the process of cooking, washing dishes, etc., with some additional loads associated with activities in the field of creative activity. A garden and a kitchen garden are also good "platforms" for loading fingers and hands. Planting, weeding the beds - a great "warm-up" for the hands and fingers.
Working at a computer, typing text on a keyboard, working with a mouse is also a good way to develop fine motor skills. For older people who want to learn how to use computers, free courses are offered in cities. On the Internet you can find a huge amount of interesting and useful information. Seniors may be interested in talking on thematic forums and social networks. In social networks, of course, you can not only find your old friends and relatives, communicate with them almost every day, but also make new friends. On the Internet there is an opportunity to receive information about various events held in the city, in libraries, museums, public organizations. In addition, social networks have many thematic interest groups: home economics, needlework, cooking, politics, economics, gardening, etc. Active participation in the discussion of various topics in such groups will allow spending time with benefit in all senses of the word in the context of this article.