Re:The relationship between mindset and age (2017)
by ramraj07 on Friday June 12, 2020 @10:01PM
(#23506058)
Do you have advice on how to keep your intellect intact? Many of my older relatives can barely think through things at 0.1x the speed they had even a decade back, if they even bother to think through anything. However, very old people in academia seemed to remain very sharp well into their seventies (some study suggested that they can be as sharp as a regular 25 yo). I guess it's good to keep reading and constantly use your brain, but any more solid actionable habits might be useful!
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Re:The relationship between mindset and age (2017)
by every on Friday June 12, 2020 @10:36PM
(#23506245)
Anything I can offer will be anecdotal. I have been placed somewhere on the autistic spectrum so perhaps that is a factor. People who constantly think and wrestle with things are driven to do so. Those who don't, aren't. I know of no way to manipulate or adjust this difference. I would say the thing to avoid at every turn is calcification, if you can...
Re:The relationship between mindset and age (2017)
by nradov on Friday June 12, 2020 @10:47PM
(#23506298)
Keep your cardiovascular system healthy. In many older people the loss of intellect is simply caused by insufficient glucose and oxygen reaching the brain. Everything is connected; intellect isn't some separate quality that can be maintained on its own.
Of course some people start from a higher baseline and so a slight loss of intellect is less noticeable.
Re:The relationship between mindset and age (2017)
by travisjungroth on Friday June 12, 2020 @11:02PM
(#23506374)
There might be a bit of circular reasoning about the old academics. People who lose their cognition don’t stay academics. It’d be interesting to see a cohort analysis starting at 40.
Re:The relationship between mindset and age (2017)
by naasking on Saturday June 13, 2020 @04:50PM
(#23512590)
Exactly, survivorship bias.
Re:The relationship between mindset and age (2017)
by Mikeb85 on Saturday June 13, 2020 @03:17AM
(#23507527)
I only have anecdotes but most of my older relatives have reached 90+ years old and none lost their cognition. They all stayed pretty active (Ukrainian farmers and housewives) and independent. All were also quite social, inquisitive despite not being educated, ate pretty traditional diets, etc... There's definite links between cognition and physical exercise so I'm thinking that probably plays a pretty big role.
Re:The relationship between mindset and age (2017)
by rramadass on Saturday June 13, 2020 @03:15AM
(#23507515)
There have been studies done on healthy and long lived Okinawans from Japan and people from certain mountainous villages in Italy (see youtube for videos). The current consensus seems to be;
* A healthy and controlled diet.
* Regular activity of various kinds.
* A inclusive and healthy social life.
* A positive frame of mind with less worries.
The above may seem simplistic, but if you think about it that is all it takes.
Re:The relationship between mindset and age (2017)
by danbmil99 on Friday June 12, 2020 @11:38PM
(#23506566)
you should try to separate mental speed from intellectual capacity. Many older folk are perfectly capable of understanding things, but their minds don't necessarily operate at the same clock speed they did when they were in their 20s.