Retiring at a later age means workers need to maintain youthful levels of memory and cognitive function
FOR MOST of us keeping fit involves a regular run in the park, a swim or a game of football. We rarely consider the importance of maintaining a fit brain, but that looks set to change.
An ageing population means increasing numbers of people are going to have to work until later in life, according to Ian Robertson, professor of psychology at Trinity College Dublin.
The preservation of youthful levels of memory and cognitive function will be crucial if we are to do this, says Robertson.
“We really have to look after our brains because we’re going to need it for economic survival,” he says.
“I think ageing is going to be as big a problem as global warming because the number of people over 75 is going to double in the next 30 years,” he says.
“We have got to get a cohort of fit, healthy older people who are not only going to be able to look after themselves, but are going to be able to run companies and contribute .”
At the moment there are about six workers for every retired person, says Robertson. But in 30-40 years’ time, that is going to go down to two workers for every retired person, “which is clearly impossible”, he says.
“The idea of people retiring on large pensions at 65 is a thing of the past.”
Robertson will highlight seven steps to keep your brain at optimal function at The Seven Secrets of Brain Fitness at TCD on Thursday, one of a series of lectures hosted by the Psychological Society of Ireland to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
“One of the strongest is aerobic exercise. Physical fitness is very good for the heart and body, but it is just as good for the brain,” he says.
“People’s ability to remember things is better if they are aerobically fit. You’ll be sharper at any age if you’re aerobically fit. What’s good for the heart is good for the brain.”
Meanwhile, a diet low in saturated fats and high in consumption of dark-coloured fruits and vegetables and fish are good for the brain.
New learning and mental stimulation are also crucial. “New learning is very good for the brain. It’s possible it might stimulate the production of new brain. We should all be continuing to learn throughout life,” says Robertson.
“Mental stimulation is keeping a sense of curiosity and exposure to new experiences and doing mentally demanding things.”
Meanwhile, keeping stress under control, maintaining a rich social network and a positive mental attitude are the final three secrets.
“People who have rich social networks are in general terms more healthy and happier than people who are isolated and that’s also true of the brain.”
The good news is if you do these things you are more likely to maintain youthful levels of memory and cognitive function, he says.
“Our mental function is a key resource for getting out of the current economic crisis . . . the basis of the smart economy is brains.”
While the idea of working longer may not seem particularly attractive, Robertson says the notion of retiring is not psychologically healthy for many people.
“In the States you’ll see 70 to 80 year olds still working . . . for many of them that’s a good thing . . . the demands, the feeling useful and connected and having to get up in the morning and do things is actually good for your brain,” says Robertson.
“There’s a depressing side, but the positive side is you’re lengthening your life and . . . when people are contributing to the economy they won’t be discriminated against as much as older people are at the moment.
“On the upside you are changing society’s expectation of older people. Ageism has to go out the window. There is a terrible ageism and whether you have a job or not should depend on your productivity and not on your age.
“To force someone to retire at aged 65 purely on the basis of their age no longer makes sense given that we are all inhabiting younger bodies.”
Robertson says that due to improvements in health and wealth, people are physically 10 years younger than they were 50 years ago.
“The country will not be able to afford to pay people to play golf at 60. This is the last generation where that is going to happen,” he adds.
Ian Robertson presents The Seven Secrets of Brain Fitnesson Thursday at 6pm, Davis theatre, Arts Block, TCD. See psihq.ie
Brain Train: Seven Secrets Of Fitness
1.Aerobic exercise
2.Diet
3.New learning
4.Mental stimulation
5.Keeping stress under control
6.A rich social network
7.Mental attitude
