Why do we sometimes experience a mental block?

What’s happening there is that you’re attempting to do something using your declarative memory, where information has transferred, and it’s not there any more because it has transferred to your procedural memory. Many years ago, someone gave me some wonderful advice
about how to beat someone who’s better than you at playing tennis. You just say to her: ‘That’s a fantastic back swing. How do you do that?’ I focus her attention on how she does her back swing, and persuade her to retrieve that information in a really difficult way. For the rest of the game she will be trying to do that, which makes it very
difficult for her to play the game. And then I beat her! This works with other sports and activities as well.

Does your brain work differently as you get older?

In your first 20 years, the brain is still developing so there are some differences. At about 25, it finishes developing but you can still learn. You can continue to improve the way your brain works, and your thinking skills, right up until you die.

Does your memory get worse as you get older?

People think it does. However, it is more closely linked to self-esteem. If you improve your self-esteem, your memory will improve. There is no reason to believe the rubbish people talk about the memory deteriorating with age.

Henry Ford said: “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning today is young. The greatest feeling in life is to keep the mind young.”

Michelangelo said it even more concisely: “I am still learning.” No matter how big you are or how old you get, you’re still
learning.

The five factors for staying mentally alert in old age
 

• Aerobic exercise
• Anaerobic exercise
• Social contacts
• New challenges
• Taking responsibility

Can I live longer by taking control of my life?

What’s important is believing that there’s something you can do about a situation. Somehow, just having that belief makes things better.

There was an interesting study done by Rosy Daniel, who used to be the Director of the Bristol Cancer Centre. She took a large group of women with breast cancer, all of the same severity, and looked at their beliefs about the situation.

Some women were saying: ‘That’s it. There’s nothing that can be done. The doctors are doing their best but…’ There was a group at the other end of the spectrum who were saying: ‘I’m going to survive. I’m going to find out what I can do…’

After 13 or 14 years, 80 per cent of the first group were dead. And of the last group, 80 per cent were still alive. When my grandmother died she was over 90. Even though she was ill, what she held onto for a long time was the thought of having a birthday party. She was taking control of something she could do to celebrate, taking control and
imagining that, and having a goal in her life.

My grandfather lived for a further few years until the age of 96. He led an active social life, playing snooker twice a week until the age of 95, and taking responsibility for his activities. Then, after moving into a 24-hour nursing home, his health rapidly deteriorated as he had comparatively little to control in his life. Whilst I encouraged him to focus on the future, the focus of control had shifted in his mind. I noticed that his language changed to reflect that and his thinking was now more hindering than helpful in wanting to live. The magic had gone.

The Shangri-la effect
 

An interesting study was done in Okinawa, Japan, where people live an average of 10 years longer than anywhere else in the world.

There are two obvious reasons for this: diet and exercise. They do lots of gardening, dancing, walking, and so on. They are not particularly rich, but one of the interesting things is the religion there.

The oldest woman in the family is the head of the religion. We know that women live longer than men anyway, so when they get old, the women have a responsibility, and thereby they have a purpose in life. This could be a key factor on why they live that long. 100 years young

Years ago, I saw a documentary on television about a  group of people who had lived to be 100. They interviewed one man who was 99, and coming up to his 100th birthday. His whole life had been spent
manufacturing motor bikes somewhere in the north of England. His goal was to ride down to Buckingham Palace on his 100th birthday to pick up his telegram from the Queen instead of receiving it in the post!
 

There was also a woman who went dancing three times a week. She was benefiting from the exercise, the social activity, and even learning new dances. The other thing that struck me about these centagenarians was that none of them were overweight.

How can I reduce the chance of dementia as I grow
older?

The first thing to do is identify your risk factor. You can
find a useful check list in Daniel Amen’s book, "Preventing
Alzheimer’s."

Also, do regular memory tests, so you can spot any degrading in your memory and get an early diagnosis. Don’t abuse drugs. Eat five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. Reduce your intake of fried food. Eat lots of whole grain foods. Limit your refined carbohydrates. Reduce your red meat and fatty meat. Eat more fish, poultry and beans.
Maintain a healthy weight. Get more exercise. Learn some new things, and indulge in fewer than two hours of television a day. Avoid activities with an increased risk of head injuries.