Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

At the Bridge Table, Clues to a Lucid Old Age
times. ^ | May 21, 2009 | BENEDICT CAREY

Posted on 05/22/2009 8:06:24 PM PDT by JoeProBono

LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. — The ladies in the card room are playing bridge, and at their age the game is no hobby. It is a way of life, a daily comfort and challenge, the last communal campfire before all goes dark. “We play for blood,” says Ruth Cummins, 92, before taking a sip of Red Bull at a recent game. “It’s what keeps us going,” adds Georgia Scott, 99.

“It’s where our closest friends are.” In recent years scientists have become intensely interested in what could be called a super memory club — the fewer than one in 200 of us who, like Ms. Scott and Ms. Cummins, have lived past 90 without a trace of dementia. It is a group that, for the first time, is large enough to provide a glimpse into the lucid brain at the furthest reach of human life, and to help researchers tease apart what, exactly, is essential in preserving mental sharpness to the end. “These are the most successful agers on earth, and they’re only just beginning to teach us what’s important, in their genes, in their routines, in their lives,” said Dr. Claudia Kawas, a neurologist at the University of California, Irvine.

“We think, for example, that it’s very important to use your brain, to keep challenging your mind, but all mental activities may not be equal. We’re seeing some evidence that a social component may be crucial.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: 90study; alzheimersdisease; apoe2; bridge; cetp; dementia; neurology; neuroscience; oldage

1 posted on 05/22/2009 8:06:24 PM PDT by JoeProBono
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

I look forward to a Lucido Old Age.


2 posted on 05/22/2009 8:10:02 PM PDT by Larry Lucido
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

Journalism - a rare event at the New York Times.


3 posted on 05/22/2009 8:17:24 PM PDT by BobL (Drop a comment: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2180357/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BobL

4 posted on 05/22/2009 8:24:47 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono
What matters most is continued independence. And that means that, at some point, they have to let go of close friends. “The first thing you always want to do is run and help them,” Ms. Davis said. “But after a while you end up asking yourself: ‘What is my role here? Am I now the caregiver?’ You have to decide how far you’ll go, when you have your own life to live.” “You don’t play with them, period,” Ms. Cummins said. “You’re not cruel. You’re just busy.” “and very often when they stop playing, they don’t live much longer.”

Nice bunch...

5 posted on 05/22/2009 8:32:20 PM PDT by LibFreeOrDie (Obama promised a gold mine, but he will give us the shaft.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibFreeOrDie

6 posted on 05/22/2009 8:35:02 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: All

7 posted on 05/22/2009 8:41:55 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Larry Lucido

In the next decade they won’t have to study people at retirement homes. We’ll at be at work in our 90’s. Same difference. Oh, well, couldn’t make the cut. Slipped & forgot. No paycheck.

See all works out. It’s all for our own good.

(joke)


8 posted on 05/22/2009 8:52:36 PM PDT by Bhoy (TEA PAllARTY ON!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

I saw a study put together about 6 years ago on this issue, and it was quite fascinating. They ranked it in order of mental labor: ie The best activities had to do with working with data or numbers; the 2nd best activities were things that required memorization (students, actors, speakers, etc.. The third best was getting out there and socializing, staying active mentally with friends. And the last, and most damaging was watching tv & building puzzles.

I would love to make it to 90, but only if I am coherent enough to enjoy it. I’m sure this decision won’t be my own, with the new deathcare coming into law. At this rate, we’ll be lucky to make it to 50.


9 posted on 05/22/2009 9:05:05 PM PDT by Atom Smasher
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Bhoy

You are not far from the truth. They have already raised the retirement age for full SS benefits to 67. What would prevent them from raising the age to 72, which has been talked about. Why not raise it to 100 and be done with the charade.


10 posted on 05/22/2009 9:19:14 PM PDT by Jim from C-Town
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; george76; ...
"We play for blood," says Ruth Cummins, 92, before taking a sip of Red Bull at a recent game. "It's what keeps us going," adds Georgia Scott, 99.
...as she orders another jack and a beer back.
11 posted on 05/22/2009 9:45:39 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/____________________ Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

My mom is 80. She is the youngster in her bridge club. They play every week. I believe one of the “gang” is 96.


12 posted on 05/22/2009 10:03:06 PM PDT by Knute
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Knute

13 posted on 05/22/2009 11:14:05 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: JoeProBono

thanks, bfl


14 posted on 07/28/2009 4:43:09 PM PDT by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson