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Working Up a Cognitive Sweat

My grandmother is legally blind and deaf, but my dad made a great comment to me the other day:  “she is blind in one eye and sharp as a tack in the other”.  Now 85, for the last 15 years she has had to adjust to her hearing and vision loss through cognitive flexibility and acutely tuning her other senses.  The result?  An elderly woman who does not appear to be experiencing any element of cognitive decline.  In fact, she knows more about adaptive computers, closed circuit reading machines, hearing aids and compensatory tools than I do.  The old cliché is true when we talk of cognition – “use it or lose it”.

 

Our brains are made of billions of neurons, which interact with each other to complete specific tasks. Signals are sent from one neuron to another along neural pathways, and these determine our thoughts, emotions, insights, and so much more. Each task relies on a different neural pathway, so the pathway for reading a book is different than the pathway for putting on our shirt. The more we use a pathway, the stronger the connection becomes.

 

These neurons have the ability to physically change themselves when faced with new and difficult experiences. This ability is called neuroplasticity. As we are exposed to new areas, tasks, information or experiences, neural pathways are formed and existing ones are reshaped. This will continue throughout our entire lives as we learn. As we have experienced through practicing a musical instrument, memorizing our shopping list or recalling a friend’s phone number, if we consciously focus and train our brains in a certain area, they will become faster and more efficient at performing those tasks.

 

Just as we need to exercise the muscles in our body, we also need to exercise our brain. One form of brain exercise is called cognitive training. Online training programs have been developed to allow anyone with an Internet connection to have a daily cognitive workout by completing exercises which strengthen our neural pathways. This could include memory, concentration problem solving, visual perception – you name it!

Here is a list of some of the readily available online cognitive training programs:

 

 

  • ·     Lumosity(www.lumosity.com): Brain training exercises that focus on memory, attention, flexibility, speed of processing and problem solving. Specific areas to work on are selected as your create a personal profile. Lumosity will automatically create a set of five exercises to complete daily, and keep track of your progress. Membership can be purchased on a monthly ($15) or yearly ($80) basis. It can be trialed for free, but the trial has limited games available.

 

  • ·     Mind Games (www.mindgames.com): Brain games selected to focus on memory, attention, spatial reasoning, problem solving, focus speed, fluid intelligence, stress, reaction time and visual perception. All games on the website can be played for free.

 

  • ·     Actibrain(www.actibrain.com): Brain exercises to train in verbal, numerical, logical, memory and spatial areas. An online profile can be created for free and workout games played as frequently as you want. Progress charts keep track of your daily results.

 

  • ·    The Brain Wizard (www.thebrainwizard.com): Brain training exercises focusing on attention, thinking, recall, concentration and memory. A trial version is available for three days and a full membership can be purchased for $0.25/day.

 

  • ·     Brain Metrix (www.brainmetrix.com): Brain games focusing on reflection, creativity, memory, spatial intelligence, numbers and concentration. All games on the website can be played for free.

 

So, go bench press some cognition, increase your reps, and work up a cognitive sweat!

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The Mind-Body Connection for Optimal Health

While traditional medicine is quite advanced and has many remedies for what ails you, there is a greater focus on the mind-body connection and how the two acting in harmony can improve your overall health warding off many illnesses and health complaints.  The following article by Alive Magazine discusses how to achieve a greater mind-body health connection.  By utilizing stress reduction therapies, meditation, deep breathing, yoga, music and pet therapy and many more you can be on your way to achieving overall balanced wellness.

 

Alive Magazine: Mind-Body Health

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What Inspires You?

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

My work inspires me – everyday.  And what I find most inspiring are those people who are able to turn a terrible or traumatic situation into something beautiful.  I saw this first with Bob.  When I was 19, in my undergrad and knowing I wanted a career in health care, I applied for a job as an attendant care aide.  Despite having no experience and only able to offer a positive attitude and helping spirit, I got the job. Bob was my boss.  Bob had been rendered a quadriplegic when he was hit by a car.  Bob described his life before his accident as “miserable”.  He was very open about his previous unhappiness and spoke candidly about how his accident helped him to turn his life around.  As I worked with Bob for many years we became quite close.  Overtime, he started telling me about the feelings he was having for one of his other attendants.  I listened and encouraged Bob to share his feelings with her.  He did, and discovered that the feelings were mutual.  They were soon married.  Bob and his new wife lived a wonderful life – they traveled, spent time with friends and family, and just truly enjoyed each other’s company.  I remained in touch with Bob and his wife over the years and was saddened to hear of Bob’s passing a few weeks ago.  At the visitation I hugged his wife and together we spoke of the wonderful years they shared, and the joy they brought to each other.

I believe that when Bob had his accident he had choices – maybe not physical choices to walk again, or to be able to regain full use of his hands – but he had emotional choices.  He could have chosen to be miserable, grumpy and difficult to work for.  Or, to withdrawal from others and live reclusively. He could have resumed his previous poor habits that rendered him so unhappy in his adult years.  He also could have decided to keep his feelings for his attendant to himself, fearing rejection.  But Bob’s accident made him realize the preciousness of life and this helped him to make all the right choices and decisions that ultimately brought him joy, love and happiness in his remaining years.  

We can all learn from the Bob’s of the world.  And luckily enough for me I have a caseload full of them.

 

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Summer First Aid Essentials

Although it’s best to be prepared and know how to avoid sunburn and heat illnesses the hot summer can bring, sometimes our best efforts fail and we need to learn how to deal with the consequences.  The following from the Government’s Healthy Canadians, will help you learn how to treat a sunburn or heat stroke, 2 very common summer health issues.  Although prevention is the best method, it’s best to be prepared.

 

Healthy Canadians: First aid advice for sunburn and heat illness

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Hope is Essential

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

A friend asked me to visit a colleague of his who was in hospital following a spinal infection.  The spinal infection, and resulting surgery, caused paralysis and the gentleman was told he will not walk again.  During our visit we spoke of the non-profit organization “Spinal Cord Injury Ontario” and the client’s wife told me the story of their first meeting with a Peer Support volunteer.  She recalled that the volunteer (a paraplegic) entered their room and introduced himself.  The wife politely thanked him for coming but told him they would not need his services as they strongly believe that her husband will walk again.   The volunteer’s answer was brilliant – he told them that even though it has been years since his own accident, he too has not given up hope that one day there will be a cure for paralysis.  He explained that he keeps himself in great shape as to always be prepared for that day.  He told my friend’s colleague to never give up hope.

This conversation reminded me that hope is essential.  As a health professional, I realized early that one of the key roles I play in the lives of my clients is to foster hope.  Hope for a better future, for a solution to their current problems, and for a better way to manage.  Even just discussing problems and brainstorming solutions elicits hope.  Health professionals should never undervalue the importance of fostering hope – even if that is in the face of one huge challenge after another.  Where hope becomes dangerous is when people are so busy waiting for “the cure” that they forget to manage in the meantime.  Hope, like goals, is essential to survival, but so is survival in between.  To forgo opportunities, solutions and help in the hopes of a future “fix” will only cause secondary problems that may be larger than the initial problem in the first place.

This philosophy is supported by most Chronic Pain Programs – they will not admit people to participate if that person is banking on a surgery, medication, or other therapy to “fix” them.  Some problems are chronic, and learning to manage with the trials of life despite the problem is the only therapy.  This should not squish hope – but rather should allow hope to live and breathe among optimal function.  

I always try to remain hopeful.  Hopeful for a better world for my children, for resolution of pain and suffering for my clients, for the health of others, and for my industry to remain a place where injured people can be adequately supported during their recovery.  But I recognize that it is not always easy to feel hopeful.  So, if you ever find yourself running on empty in the hope tank, try calling a supportive friend or family member, looking online (or on this blog) for inspiration, watching a funny or uplifting movie, getting some exercise, changing your scenery, or seeking support from a health professional.  We are here for hope and help. 

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Fact of Fiction? Top Summer Health Myths Revealed

Do you really need to wait at least 30 minutes after eating to go for a swim?  Is it dangerous to drink water from your garden hose?  Will scratching that itchy bug bite actually make it worse?   The answers to these and other common summer health questions are answered in the following article by Men’s Health Magazine.  Check this out to find out how to handle these and other summer health issues.

Men’s Health: 7 Summer Myths—Busted!

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Summer Sports Safety

Do you or your kids participate in summer activities or sports?  Swimming, playing soccer, golf, tennis and other summer sports can be fabulous for your health, however, you need to ensure you are playing safely.  Whether you play organized summer sports or simply enjoy a nature walk, the following article from Better Home and Gardens discusses how to ensure you and your family play it safe this summer.