{"id":21088,"date":"2021-03-11T19:53:49","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T19:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/?p=21088&post_type=story"},"modified":"2021-06-22T19:08:43","modified_gmt":"2021-06-22T19:08:43","slug":"how-to-ace-the-test-of-time","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/how-to-ace-the-test-of-time\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Ace the Test of Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spring 2021<\/em> |\u00a0By Nicole Dudenhoefer\u00a0<\/strong>\u201917<\/b><\/p>\n

[lead]\u201cWhen do we start aging?\u201d[\/lead]<\/p>\n

This is the question Nicole Dawson, UCF assistant professor of physical therapy<\/a>, asks at the start of her Geriatric Physical Therapy <\/i>course. She says students often struggle to respond to the question, but the answer is simpler than expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe start aging from the moment we are conceived,\u201d says Dawson, who has been working with elderly patients for more than 15 years.<\/p>\n

While aging is often viewed societally as a condition that needs to be staved off and affects people close to their 60s, it\u2019s a natural process of life that everyone goes through daily \u2014 whether 18 or 80.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn our modern media everything related to aging is anti-aging, so I think the biggest misconception is that aging is a negative thing,\u201d Dawson says. \u201cBut there are so many positive things to aging, and most of the literature shows aging successfully is really just a balance between our gains and losses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawson and other researchers at UCF have found striking the right balance boils down to three interconnected areas: cognitive health, physical health and social health. And the sooner you start to care for each of these areas, the better your chances of living a longer, healthier life.<\/p>\n

[photo id=”21354″ title=”TOT-PEG-SPR21-Web-300×300-mental” alt=”An illustration of a lightbulb, painters palette, paintbrush, book, paper, and pencil” width=”300px”][\/photo]<\/div>\n

Train Your Brain<\/h2>\n

One of the most common issues associated with aging is dementia, which is a range of conditions that affects thinking, reasoning and memory skills, impacting behavioral abilities.<\/p>\n

The leading cause of dementia is Alzheimer\u2019s disease, which is progressive and has no cure. However, research has shown that a combination of positive lifestyle choices, such as a healthy diet, not smoking, regular exercise and cognitive stimulation, can reduce the risk for the disease by up to 60% \u2014 and may even counteract genetic risk for it, according to a study released by the Alzheimer\u2019s Association.<\/p>\n

Attending college, taking a continuing education course, pursuing a career that requires creative thinking, and engaging in activities that challenge you to use multiple brain functions are some ways to keep your mind sharp throughout your lifetime.<\/p>\n

But what happens once someone has already started to show symptoms of dementia?<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of barriers that healthcare professionals<\/a> \u2014 specifically physical, occupational and speech therapists \u2014 have in caring for patients with dementia,\u201d says Dawson, co-director of UCF\u2019s Innovative Mobility Initiative Lab. \u201cWe don\u2019t get taught a lot about geriatrics in general, let alone dementia. So when someone is diagnosed with dementia, what often happens is they\u2019re sat in a chair in a corner and told not to do anything anymore \u2014 and that\u2019s the worst thing we can do for that patient population.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2019, Dawson published a paper with Cleveland State University psychology Professor Kathy Judge and Ashleigh Trapuzzano \u201915 \u201919DPT<\/b>, then a UCF physical therapy doctoral student<\/a>, that outlines how healthcare professionals can help patients with dementia maintain a better quality of life. They called it the LEAD framework \u2014 Leveraging Existing Abilities in Dementia \u2014 which focuses on coping methods for the emotions associated with the disease, communication strategies and cognitive rehabilitation methods.<\/p>\n

The methods include validating the feelings of the individual with dementia; using short, simple directions to help them complete tasks; and providing Montessori-based activities, such as puzzles and walking, that emphasize independence and natural development, among many other evidence-based methods.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve luckily been successful with helping therapists become more confident and learn how to practice these strategies to help patients with dementia,\u201d Dawson says.<\/p>\n

Step Up Your Strength.<\/h2>\n

\"\"
\nAs the Alzheimer\u2019s Association has suggested, Dawson also notes that brain function can get a boost not just from mental exercises that keep you engaged but physical ones too.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a huge relationship between cognitive decline and physical decline,\u201d Dawson says. \u201cThe two cognitive processes that seem most important are executive function, which is kind of our higher-level thinking, and processing speed. But what\u2019s interesting is we know the relationship exists; we just don\u2019t understand it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which is why Dawson is studying this relationship in collaboration with Matt Stock, an associate professor of physical therapy and director of UCF\u2019s Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory. Muscle weakness \u2014 particularly sarcopenia, which is the loss of muscle mass and strength that begins around 40 and accelerates after 70 \u2014 is a prominent issue related to physical health. Stock and other members of the scientific community are investigating the nervous system\u2019s role in healthy muscle function.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe brain and the spinal cord\u2019s ability to control muscles really plays an equal role \u2014 and potentially even larger role \u2014 than the muscles themselves,\u201d Stock says. \u201cThe cause of sarcopenia is not only related to muscles getting smaller. It\u2019s also because oftentimes [due to] inactivity you lose the connectivity of the nervous system that controls the muscles.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the UCF duo doesn\u2019t entirely know why this happens, Stock says mental imagery, such as envisioning oneself contracting muscles or watching someone else perform motor functions shows promise to combat connectivity issues. But above all, he suggests that strength training is the greatest preventative measure against all aging-related issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting yourself on a strength-training program and maintaining it throughout your life is one of the most important things you can do for your health and well-being,\u201d Stock says. \u201cAnd you\u2019re never too old to start. The principles of strength training for older adults are the same as younger adults. They just need to be tailored to each individual.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over eight years, a study of more than 80,000 participants from ages 30 to 81 found individuals\u00a0who engaged in moderate-intensity strength training twice a week reduced their risk for dying from any health-related cause by 23% and from cancer by 31%, according to the American Journal of Epidemiology<\/i>. The study also pointed to the potential for higher volumes of weekly weightlifting to reduce those risks even further, while emphasizing that these benefits aren\u2019t as impactful with just aerobic exercise.<\/p>\n

While total body conditioning is important, Stock says squatting and exercises that promote handgrip strength are especially beneficial since they support physical function across a range of activities. Many studies have shown that poor handgrip strength in particular is a strong indicator of mortality.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe key component that oftentimes gets forgotten is progressive overload,\u201d he says. \u201cThe finer details of the exercise program you do are less important than making sure you\u2019re constantly making it more and more\u00a0difficult over time. If you just keep doing the same thing, you\u2019re not going to make any further progress. If you did 10 repetitions of an exercise last week, try 12 this week. Physiological stress drives adaptation. You have to push yourself to do a little bit more every time.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that push doesn\u2019t just relate to physical function.<\/p>\n

\u201cStrength training changes older people\u2019s ability to perform activities of daily living. They become less fearful,\u00a0and it gives them a new sense of confidence and independence. They start trying new things that are totally unrelated,\u201d Stock says.<\/p>\n

[blockquote source=”Matt Stock, associate professor of physical therapy” cite=”” color=”” css_class=””]\u201cThe brain and the spinal cord\u2019s ability to control muscles really plays an equal role \u2014 and potentially even larger role \u2014 than the muscles themselves.\u201d[\/blockquote]<\/p>\n

[photo id=”21353″ title=”TOT-PEG-SPR21-Web-300×40-divider2″ width=”300px”][\/photo]<\/div>\n

Stay Socially Active.<\/h2>\n

\"\"
\nContinuing to experience new things, and living without the fear of doing so, is vital to aging gracefully and supports the ability to continue living a fulfilling life.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we get older, a lot of the roles that we occupy disappear or change,\u201d says Michael Loree, a UCF sociology instructor who researches aging.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of what the research shows on aging successfully is this idea of activity theory, or maintaining social interactions, which is supported by replacing the roles that are lost with new ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

For some people this can take the form of volunteering, becoming more involved with a religious group, traveling, hanging out with friends frequently or being an active member in a senior life care community \u2014 such as Legacy Pointe at UCF, which offers independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care residences and will open in Seminole County later this year.<\/p>\n

But the impact of social ties starts from the time we\u2019re teenagers and continues to make a difference through old age. The more diverse social relationships people have at an early age, the better their well-being is at the beginning and end of their lives, according to a 2016 study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. But during middle adulthood, the study found that it\u2019s not so much how many friends you have, as much as the quality of your friendships.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it comes to retirement, just sitting on the couch in front of the television for the next 20 years of your life is not going to be very rewarding or healthy,\u201d Loree says. \u201cThose who embrace old age as a meaningful time in their life to do the things they want \u2014 those folks tend to do a little bit better.\u201d<\/p>\n

In about 1,100 seniors without dementia, the rate of cognitive decline was reduced by an average of 70% in those who were frequently socially active \u2014 with several outings each month \u2014 when compared to individuals who only went out once a year or less, according to a study conducted by the Rush Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Center in Chicago. Another study found frequent levels of social activity also helped maintain lower disability levels in older people, allowing them to live independently longer.<\/p>\n

[blockquote source=”Michael Loree, instructor of sociology” cite=”” color=”” css_class=””]\u201cThose who embrace old age as a meaningful time in their life to do the things they want \u2014 those folks tend to do a little bit better.\u201d[\/blockquote]<\/p>\n

[photo id=”21352″ title=”TOT-PEG-SPR21-Web-300×40-divider1″ width=”300px”][\/photo]<\/div>\n

Assistant Professor Ladda Thiamwong, who has 15 years of experience in gerontological nursing education<\/a>, has developed a model for healthy aging that includes a theme focused on social health. Beyond remaining socially active and helping others, she also emphasizes that having dignity and being respected are major components to healthy aging.<\/p>\n

\u201cRespect is the foundation of healthy relationships \u2014 even the one with yourself \u2014 as it builds feelings of trust, security and happiness,\u201d Thiamwong says. \u201cWe must treat older adults with respect because their time, experience and wisdom to navigate life can serve as valuable lessons for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

In American society, youthfulness is valued over aging, Loree says, and societal attitudes toward aging have an impact on the experience. To combat negative stereotypes, Dawson encourages everyone to embrace the journey that comes with age and to remember: \u201cAging is not a disease that needs to be cured. It is an opportunity that needs to be seized.\u201d<\/p>\n

[callout background=”#000″ content_align=”left” affix=”false” css_class=””]<\/p>\n

[photo id=”21386″ title=”TOT-PEG-SPR21-Web-300×130-lifetimelearners” alt=”” width=”300px”][\/photo]<\/div>\n

Lifetime Learners<\/h2>\n

With about 700 current members, The Learning Institute for Elders \u2014 LIFE at UCF \u2014 has been providing meaningful engagement opportunities for those 50+ since 1991. From partnering with faculty for research to participating in custom lectures that cover the spectrum of academia, LIFE members are some of the most active members of the campus community.<\/span><\/p>\n

And when the coronavirus began to alter university operations in March 2020, the group was among the most heavily affected organizations at UCF. Since Fall 2020, LIFE has transitioned to virtual discussions via Zoom and has ramped up offerings this spring.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been an extremely rewarding, educational and terrific aspect of our social lives to gather with this group \u2014 and I miss it very much right now,\u201d says Todd Bowers \u201977<\/b>, president of LIFE. \u201cEven though we\u2019ve resumed some activities online right now, it\u2019s not quite the same.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In an effort to regain some of the connectivity to other Knights, the organization recently launched the LIFE Coaches program, which pairs a handful of members who have completed training with 50 undergraduate juniors and seniors. Mentors will provide guidance on academic support and enhancement opportunities, graduate school and careers. The concept was created by Theodorea Regina Berry, vice provost for Student Learning and Academic Success and dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA key to student success is a strong support network,\u201d Berry says. \u201cLIFE mentors provide different perspectives. By sharing their experiences, they’ll help students identify the steps they need to take to prepare for success after graduation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Teresa Riedel is one of the most recent LIFE members who has completed training and is in the process of being paired up with mentees.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a brilliant partnership that connects individuals,\u201d says Riedel, a former Seminole County school teacher. \u201cIt is all about supporting students, and that is critical \u2014 especially right now. All of the LIFE Coaches going through the training are excited for the opportunity to give back to the UCF community.\u201d<\/span>[\/callout]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":21350,"template":"","categories":[977],"tags":[1381,405,1522,1520,1523,1521],"class_list":["post-21088","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","tag-college-of-health-professions-and-sciences","tag-college-of-nursing","tag-innovative-mobility-initiative-lab","tag-legacy-pointe","tag-life-at-ucf","tag-neuromuscular-plasticity-laboratory","issues-spring-2021"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Ace the Test of Time \u2014 The Essentials to Healthy Aging<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn what is essential to graceful aging \u2014 no matter how old you are \u2014 according to experts in physical therapy, sociology and gerontological nursing.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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