Aging and Life Enhancement
By Kathryn Kilpatrick, M.A.
When you think of curiosity, a child’s incessant questions may come to mind, but what about your curiosity? Why ? …Because it is an essential component to keeping your brain active and engaged.
Curiosity is one of the many components for supporting your cognitive health, and that really matters. Yes, you want to continue your exploration deeper into the interests you already have but also explore new information and make a concerted effort to try new experiences.
If knowledge is power, then curiosity is the muscle. ~Daniele La Porte
One of the many options to consider is volunteering for something you are passionate about. Maybe something one of your friends or a family member is involved in appeals to you. This might be a starting place if you are less likely to venture out on your own. Close friends of mine were very involved volunteering with the Metro Parks for years, and after learning of all the interesting and unique things they were doing, I decided to give it a try. What I liked about that was that I was doing something out of my typical routine, whether it was helping out at an event (especially if children were involved) or educational programs about the bigger picture of park projects.
I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious. ~Albert Einstein
Consider your local library. They may have an abundance of programs to pick from, some that you might attend or watch on Zoom. If technology is an obstacle for you, perhaps a family member or friend is willing to help you get it set up. If it also appeals to them too, you might get the benefit of a conversation that stimulates your mind in different areas.
Lifelong learning experiences at the local senior centers include a wide variety of opportunities, including exercise for ALL levels, trips/excursions for a few hours (all you have to do is show up), or interesting speakers on a variety of topics. The benefits also include meeting new people along with stimulating brain activity that can help form new neural connections in your brain.
A decade ago, I became involved as a weekly speaker on the topic of Brain Health at an assisted living facility, which brought me to a lot of searching and creating interesting slides. I learned a lot, as I was highly motivated to meet people at their level of functioning. There was a core group of attendees who embraced my idea of Lifelong Learning at their level. They looked forward to the wide variety of brain games (some easy and some challenging) along with educational tidbits and videos on a variety of topics they could no longer easily access.
Fun is an essential component… no stress if you cannot figure something out.
One of my suggestions was to bring someone along from their assisted living community who may be reluctant to attend. Some were not sure what it was about or worried about how difficult it might be and did not want to be embarrassed (which is never the case). Sometimes, I even need to look at a cheat sheet myself. Asking a family member to visit a session is also encouraged, in hopes that they may get some ideas of how to enhance visits with their loved ones. When they attend, I also make sure to share some of the ideas from the most recent research on modifications and lifestyle choices to promote better brain health.
As a speech-language pathologist for five decades with many years in home health care, I saw too many situations where someone was watching too much television for lack of something to do or someone to do it with. This was not helping them to get the needed cognitive stimulation. Even with some of their limitations, one of my goals was to try to find someone who might support enhancing engagement and curiosity at their level of functioning. I try to find out what might interest them, what level now works for them and who might help provide some variety and appropriate, enjoyable activities. I provided hints as needed, as this was NOT a test. Trying to increase engagement for brain health was the primary objective, counteracting boredom or nodding off to sleep too often.
Curiosity is the real teacher. ~Thibaut
Cultivating curiosity is strongly linked to positive brain health and cognitive functioning and flexibility. It releases dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and motivation. Curiosity activates the hippocampus in your brain which is crucial for memory formation.
Some of the literature has suggested that curiosity may decline as we age, so doing whatever you can to cultivate it matters. Also, people tend to forget information that does not engage their curiosity.
You’re never going to learn something as profoundly as when it’s out of curiosity. ~Christopher Nolan
Apathy can be part of what occurs with dementia and early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, along with less ability to access what might have once been of interest. Consider how to best keep someone engaged in activities of interest or something similar to support not only quality of life but cognitive functioning. Maybe it is a new hobby or modifying/assisting with one that is no longer safe or practical. Plus you also get the benefits on many levels. Bring your patience with you and make it enjoyable; not a classroom experience.
One gentleman I worked with was a carpenter, so his granddaughter started watching home improvement shows when she would visit him (she even set up times to call him so they could watch together since she lived out of state). He looked forward to offering his opinions. This is a memory she still recalls with fondness. I watched soap operas with my mom when I visited her from out of state, and I asked her to proofread a book I was working on. Perfection did not matter; it kept her mind engaged, doing something she loved and was still good at, PLUS it was something we both looked forward to.
Think ahead for yourself. I have a few craft projects I loved but put aside years ago. They were great stress busters (most of the time) and doing simpler quilting and cross-stitch projects still hold some appeal. Is there something along those lines you could assist an older adult with on a smaller scale? One grandson was into woodworking projects, so my suggestion was to let his grandfather watch and maybe offer some suggestions. Perhaps think about it in terms of, what if this was you? What might entice you to stay more engaged or satisfy your curiosity?
The key to enhancing the quality of your days is by staying curious. Being open-minded and willing to learn is a trait that has more advantages than ‘brain health.’
Intellectual curiosity is a super power. ~Anthony Popliano
