Beyond Terminal Care – Becoming a Superager

Caregivers for spouses with dementia are six times more likely to get dementia themselves.  Such caregivers have higher levels of stress and depression, and lower levels of subjective well-being. My contrarian nature causes me to view that as a challenge rather than a threat.  Of particular note to me were the autopsies done on superagers that revealed the presence of beta-amyloid plaques, long thought to be the culprit for Alzheimer’s and still the marker used for the disease.

The research done on the common attributes of superagers and people who live in blue zones reveal that they engage in positive social interactions, with the parts as valid as the whole.  That is to say, superagers commonly tend to be positive, social and active even in ways that do not combine the three.  This provides hope for people like me with a family history for dementia (my mother and oldest brother), while also taking care of a spouse with the disease.  Finding ways to be positive, social and active have been my goals for maintaining brain health.

Now that our situation technically shifts from terminal to indefinite my strategies for beating the odds and becoming a superager must adapt accordingly.  Upon further research I believe now that joy is the key to brain health.  There are ways that being positive, social and active each contribute to living joyously.  In doing so these attributes release a suite of hormones and neurotransmitters benefiting the brain.  There is a significant difference for brain health between behaviors such as helper’s “high” that release dopamine, serotonin, endorphins and oxytocin, and a sugar “rush” that releases only dopamine.

Many “self help” guides ironically provide specific details as to how you can help yourself.  Being positive, social or active all releasing a suite of biochemicals for brain health thwarts specific guidelines.  Having different natures and life experiences prevents any two people from following the same formula. We each can and should do “joy our own way.”

In this series for thriving beyond terminal care I share my own plans for the new year and new normal to become a superager.  Use them merely as an example for brainstorming your own, truly self help guide to live joyously.  If you find this series or any other posts helpful please like and subscribe, as that will call other people’s attention to this content, as well as help me in the long run.