In addition to Rotarians being an amazing group of “Service-Above-Self” folks, they also tend to be role models of healthy living. The purpose of this writing is to share more evolving neuroscience that is both invigorating and empowering; the goal is to enhance what you’ve been doing as a distinguished role model who gives wise counsel.

Let’s begin with an example of how evolving neuroscience can be used to tweak how we help self and others. Across my entire career, I’ve encouraged focusing on the fact that we just have more data on and in our minds as we age, much like the fact that all my important papers used to be portable in a briefcase. In comparison, the “important papers” now crowd 27 file drawers in five filing cabinets; that requires a remarkably different complex set of skills to get in the right drawer before finding the paper that must be found.

A more elegant way of stating that came from the research of Ramscar and colleagues after they completed a series of random controlled trials. They wrote that the performance of elders “reflects increased knowledge, not cognitive decline.” They emphasized that changes in cognitive performance around retirement age reflect greater memory search demands as experience grows. They were adamant that viewing an aging population as a problem that is bound to place undue burdens on society would “only serve to perpetuate myths” such that “the myth of cognitive decline is leading to an absurd waste of human potential and human capital.”

Let’s restate that in the empowering perspective of Positive Psychology: By believing that our differences in memory and in processing information with aging are associated with the richness of our life experiences, we hold onto the positive emotions that can improve our immune response as well as enhance our motivation to keep on keeping on. This could give us a much better purchase on our efforts and resolve to build better brains for a positively evolving personal best. How rich could that be?!

One rather lovely example of aging well is the oldest working nurse, Florence Rigney, RN, who turned 92 in May 2017. KING-5 in Seattle quotes her saying she feels “honored and humbled” to still be working at Tacoma General Hospital in Washington, USA, as well as “very blessed to be still able to function.”

Another excellent role model is Frieda Lefeber who had her first solo art exhibit at the age of 100. Working as a nurse for more than fifty years influenced her commitment to healthy lifestyle choices which reportedly includes exercising five mornings a week. Shouldn’t we all do that?

Speaking of exercising: There is some new research now on Robert Marchand of France who set a world record for his age group by bicycling 14 miles in one hour at the age of 105. His ten years of bicycling ended at the age of 25 when he began his career as “a gardener and wine dealer.” His first world record in track cycling was achieved in 2012 when he was in the over-100 age group and completed 24.250 kilometers in one-hour.

He improved his performance two years later at the age of 103!

A group of scientists studied Mr. Marchand for two years during which Mr. Marchand trained 5,000 kilometers per year with 20% of his cycling at a rapid rate of perceived exertion and pedaling at a rate between 50 and 70 revolutions per minute. Granted, this is only a case study; however, it is noteworthy that it is the first proof of a centenarian having capacity to improve physical performance and maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max)! These scientists suggest that this improved performance in centenarians is a way to “add life to life.”

That’s particularly pertinent to Brain Health. Aerobic exercise could help you build a better brain because research has shown that sufficient aerobic exercise can: reduce toxins in your brain – even those associated with Alzheimer’s disease; reduce inflammation which has been associated with neurodegeneration; reverse some of the effects of aging; improve your immune response; increase your healthy cholesterol and lower you LDL; protect against brain damage; elevate your mood (better than medications); AND improve your sleep, memory, concentration, speed and executive functions. Also, so believe that aerobically fit folks have more fun!

Thus, we have three role models of Outliers for Brain Health. Ms. Rigney has enjoyed an extended career. Ms. Lefeber has excelled in the arts. And Mr. Marchand gives us the first proof that a centenarian can improve physical performance and VO_2Max to “add life to life.”

NOTES:

• Joyce Shaffer, PhD, is a psychologist, nurse, speaker, global bicyclist and author. Nothing that she writes or says is intended as healthcare advice; her only promise is to bring you as much evidence-based information as she can get her mind around. She is a co-founder of promoting Brain Health by YOU for the sole purpose of improving Brain Health internationally. And DeLeon is right!  
• “Neuroplasticity and Clinical Practice: Building Brain Power for Health” is her open source peer reviewed research article. http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01118/full
• The opinions expressed in this Make-up Article do not necessarily represent the opinions of Rotary eClub One and its editorial staff