This past month the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a special report called “Cognitive Aging: Progress in Understanding the Opportunities for Action.” In this report they suggest a set of actions everyone can take to minimize their risk for age related cognitive decline and maximize their chances of remaining mentally sound well into their twilight years.
The report notes that like heart health “Brain health is influenced by lifestyle choices like exercise and diet…The brain ages just like the rest of the body,” said Dr. Kristine Yaffe, vice chair of the IOM committee. Dr. Yaffe is a professor of psychiatry, and neurology at University of California San Francisco, and has long been one of the leading researchers in the field of Alzheimer’s risk reduction. This report shares much of “what (aging of the brain) is all about, what it means from a public health perspective and what steps one can take to make sure you are aging as well as possible and maybe prevent decline” she noted.
Whether or not we can prevent Alzheimer’s is still a hot topic of controversy in the scientific community, however, age related cognitive decline is considered by the FDA to be a normal part of aging, not a disease, therefore, it’s less controversial to talk about prevention in this regard.
The report contains a variety of “actions for families, for society and for healthcare professionals.” She noted. “The things we suggest are the things you’d want to do anyway, even for heart health or for body health. We think they are good for brain health, too.” In summary they suggest:
1. Being physically active.
2. Preventing or control cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure, smoking, obesity and diabetes. “What is good for the heart is good for the brain.” (This can be achieved in large measure by following # 1 & # 3)
3. Consume a diet relatively low in fat, cholesterol and sugar and replete in antioxidant-rich vegetables and fish, and getting adequate levels of vitamin D and other brain essential nutrients.
4. Drink alcohol moderately if at all.
5. Get adequate sleep defined as 7 hours a night.
6. Overcome depression, and learn to control stress in your life.
7. Be well educated, and continue learning as you age.
8. Be involved socially in leisure or volunteer activities.
Do you get the picture here? She is saying what the FINGER study, the Wales study, the EPIC and other studies, I’ve been citing here from the past year, are saying, and that is that: the future for brain health as well as other health issues is in lifestyle modifications.
The past couple of weeks I have been sending out invites to watch Dr. Lynn Johnson’s free classes on “Lifestyle Secrets of the Happy and Healthy.”
Some saw this as advertising independent of the purpose of my newsletter, for which you signed up. But Lynn and I have been working on this for the past 4 years. You will note, if you took advantage of this free opportunity, that in his first two classes he talked about # 1 and # 3 above – 2 keys to preventing the ailments noted under # 2 and # 6 above.
I told you Dr. Johnson’s was on the cutting edge of research into mental and physical health. I think this special report proves that, as they are saying the same things, touting them as the “latest findings.”
But NONE of this information is of much value if we can’t get ourselves and others to adhere to these behavioral recommendations. So adherence is Dr. Johnson’s 3rd key. If you haven’t seen that video yet I suggest you take some time now to go to: http://drlynnjohnson.com/free-lifestyles-course/?ref=7
At the end Dr. Johnson notes that he has amassed a great deal of information on this topic of healthy lifestyles – 20 hrs worth on 12 interventions that he is offering to mental health professionals (for continuing ed credit) and to the public. I suggest you take some time to review that offer. Read it to the end. Dr. Johnson, notes that Lifestyle medicine is the medicine of our future. It’s got to be. It not only reduces the risk for diabetes, anxiety and depression, but heart disease, dementia and cancer as well – and much more powerfully and with fewer side effects than anything in modern medicine. And if you read his offer to the end you will see that many other doctors and health care professionals agree, noting:
“It’s awesome!” His course “is an extremely informative course… not just academically minded but very practically suited for implementing in our daily lives for optimal well-being. –
“…amazing opportunity for therapists, counselors and all health professionals and educators.”
“This course suggests possibilities beyond the private client model and the content can be easily applied to community education or program development.”
“All his strategies,… come together into an organized plan of healing for mind, body and spirit.”
If you watched Dr. Johnson’s first two videos, you already know and understand the essence of the two primary lifestyle keys to mental health that Dr. Yaffe mentions in their special report. Plus now one additional key to implementing those into your life. (If you missed any, all 3 are available free through this link.) So you may have all the knowledge you need with this. http://drlynnjohnson.com/free-lifestyles-course/?ref=7
However, if you want to know the future of medicine in the world, and be on the cutting edge in America (we are already behind Europe by 4 years), if you want to learn how to better foster mental and physical health and happiness, with no downside or harmful side effects, then you may want to look into this further.
You will see Dr. Johnson has drawn on some of the best cutting edge research from some of the brightest minds in the world.
Last week in conversation he told several of us, that while he was a “sickly child” he has not been sick, not even had a cold in the past 5 years, and credited that to his positive psychology and lifestyle. Just as stress can adversely affect health, these can have a powerful effect on the immune system. If you can spring for this it may save you or your organization more on health care costs than anything you will ever do.
Even if you do not work in the field of mental health or wellness, you may seriously want to consider this for your organization or just for your own health and happiness. The cost is less than a minor auto repair or the cost of a new sofa chair, and the implications for your health and future happiness are astounding!
Plus this includes 6 live sessions with Dr. Johnson, where you can ask him anything you want. This in and of itself is worth twice as much as the cost of this course. And the course will be updated as new research arrives throughout the year.
NO RISK. Plus Lynn is so confident that you will find this helpful that he will let you check out the material for two weeks at no risk. And if you are not totally excited by what he has to offer, you can back out with a full refund, no questions asked.
Plus if funds are tight for you, as they are for me, I have arranged for a $40 rebate for any of my readers. Just let me know you have signed up and I’ll have $40 sent back to you.
At least I would advise you to check out his free offering of a sound strategy or tip for incorporating any healthy change into your life.
http://drlynnjohnson.com/free-lifestyles-course/?ref=7
This is not just a class, it is the beginnings of a course that could change the face of medicine in America, and dramatically reduce our costs and health care crisis. And by knowing this material you too could become a major agent for improving mental health and reducing cognitive decline in your community.
David R. Larsen, MFHD
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