Aches and Pains

Can you tell when a storm is coming because of the pain in your knee? This feels like an old joke, but I would believe there is truth in this. An old injury, which did not impact your life much when you were young, now has grown into a larger thing. Perhaps it is not painful, or perhaps the wear and tear on that old knee has really caught up with you. The point is that as our bodies age we are not able to move as quickly as we once did.

We are also not able to think as quickly as we once did. The mind ages also. I have noticed that my toddlers have steel traps for brains. They don’t know where the second sock is, but they sure remember if I promised a snack, or told them that on Thursday we will have French fries! My theory is that they are blank slates. Little sponges absorbing everything, because they have the capacity to do so. My mind is also fairly sharp, but there is a lot more on my chalkboard. My memory is crowded with many happy days, and much school work. Some day I hope to be lucky enough to say that I have forgotten more than others have ever known. The point is, the mind is a muscle just as much as your actual body.

As we age we all get a little forgetful. You are remembering so much! Give yourself some grace, but here is something I never considered before. Your old sports injuries might contribute to the progression of dementia or even Parkinsons Disease. Contact sports can cause traumatic brain injuries. Those damage and degrade the brain not just in the moment, but over time. Once the banana has been bruised, that part ages and degrades faster. The same is true of your brain. It may seem that this information is being given too late. You played soccer decades ago, and can’t take back how many time you collided with someone, or headed the ball. My point is to educate you to look for the signs of memory loss earlier. Even if there is no history of dementia in the family. Your habits when younger contribute to your health today.

The good news is there are some steps you can take now to rehabilitate your brain, just the same as you would rehabilitate your body after an injury. Stay active. Move your body, mingle with people, read books, do puzzles, especially the math based ones like sudoku! If you do not exercise your brain, just like your body, it will not stay as strong as possible as long as possible.

Attorney Halley C. Allaire is principal in the law firm of Allaire Elder Law, a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc., with an office at 271 Farmington Avenue, Bristol, (860) 259-1500, or on the web at www.allaireelderlaw.com. If you have a question, send a note to Attorney Halley C. Allaire and your question may be discussed in a future column.