It’s not often that one meets an old couple who makes one feel young. Meeting a doctor couple recently while on an assignment made me realize that one is simply as old as one feels. Age is just a number. The husband, a venerable wise man in his 80s, was still an active member of the medical fraternity, while his wife, a few years younger, was a busy doctor and housewife rolled in one.
Not only were they up-to-date with their medical subjects, they had a healthy interest in the latest films, movie stars, books, malls, etc. They would go to see movies together and attend various functions. With conversation tinged with humour, spiced with wit and peppered with grace, my two hours with them flew away before I realized it.
While the husband went to various hospitals as a consultant and advised the government on important health policy matters, the wife still went to the grocery store and bargained in the fish market for the best buy. She didn’t have to do it – there were servants who could do it just as well. But that’s what kept them mentally agile and was the secret of their health and vitality – a lively interest in things and people around them. The positivity they emanated was rare, the goodwill, touching.
With increasing incidence of dementia in the Indian population, one wonders if a change in lifestyle and thoughts like in this doctor couple could stem its spread. While dementia is due to changes in the brain, could it be arrested decades before it manifests itself? An estimated 3.7 million have dementia in India and researchers say it could double by 2030.
Those with family members debilitated by it know what a heavy toll it takes on them, mentally, emotionally and financially. It’s not easy to see a loved one suddenly lose memory and interest in life and take on a new avatar that’s almost baby-like.
And that’s why it’s important to heed warnings on how to prevent the onslaught of brain diseases decades before it starts. A sensible exercise regime everyday, active participation in activities and a diet that contains ‘brain’ food could work.
So how about including walnuts, flax seeds, broccoli, blueberries and salmons in your food? They contain anti-oxidants which are good for the brain. It’s also important to develop a hobby. It could be as innocuous as gardening. It’s a great stress-buster and helps grey cells remain active as you cut and prune and think of new ways to beautify a plant. Also, and this seems interesting, doctors advise one to write for a few minutes with the hand one doesn’t normally use. This fires up the opposite side of the brain one doesn’t normally use. Some even suggest listening to classical music. Yes, it has to go beyond Beethovan’s Fifth Symphony.
More importantly, be positive. That calls for a major change in thinking considering that many people find it easier to run down everybody than see their good elements. And last but not the least, spend some time alone everyday, either in meditation, yoga or prayer. The quietude stills the mind, reducing stress and leaving behind a sense of gratitude for the little things of life.