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The INDEPENDENT, August 15, 2012
Seniors should jog their memory every day to keep it working
Virtually every day more re-
search is focusing on issues
impacting senior citizens. One
recent example is a study that
says keeping the mind active is
a key to good health.
As we age, we lose neurons,
but these neurons can form
new connections. Research is
being conducted now to deter-
mine if new brain connections
develop with mental and physi-
cal exercise. The brain of a
senior citizen is similar to the
brain of a healthy young per-
son. But, like muscles in our
body, the brain can grow and
change. The harder a person
uses their brain, the more it
grows and the healthier it be-
comes.
Each day we commit mil-
lions of pieces of data into our
short and long term memories.
As we get older, it becomes
harder to retrieve because
we’re on overload. Plus, we
don’t memorize as easily be-
cause we don’t practice the
skill as often.
There are ways to compen-
sate for age-related declines in
working memory. For example,
presenting information at a
slower pace, organizing and
elaborating gives time to
process and establish links be-
tween new and previously
learned information.
You can also use exercises
to improve specific mental
functions. For example, do a
daily mental exercise each
morning. You could begin the
day by counting our loud back-
ward from 100 or reciting the
alphabet giving each letter a
word.
Simple activities like setting
the table in a different way, try-
ing a new recipe, going to visit
a place you have never been
before or walking a different
route also work the memory.
Many of the same activities
that we use to stimulate the
minds of young children can be
fun and stimulating for us as
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older adults too.
It is true that our brains
change and slow as we age,
but most people do not have
serious loss of memory or intel-
ligence. The key is to try and
SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife
is seeking a qualified candidate
to represent the public-at-large
on the Fish Restoration and
Enhancement Program Board.
The application deadline is Au-
gust 24.
The Fish Restoration and
Enhancement Program is fund-
ed by a surcharge on sport and
commercial fishing licenses
and commercial poundage
fees. The R&E Board reviews
grant proposals from various
organizations and agencies
and recommends funding for
fish restoration and enhance-
ment projects throughout the
state.
Board members are ap-
pointed to four-year terms by
the Oregon Fish and Wildlife
Commission. The group meets
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three or four times each year in
various communities through-
out the state to review project
funding applications, hear pub-
lic testimony, act as liaisons be-
tween the program and the
public and to conduct other
program business. Board
members are volunteers; how-
ever, Board-related travel ex-
penses are reimbursed.
The seven-member citizen
Board is made up of three sport
fishing representatives, three
representatives
from
the
salmon troll, gillnet and
seafood processing industries
and one public-at-large repre-
sentative.
To obtain an application or
learn more about the R&E Pro-
gram, visit the R&E website at
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/
RE/ All applications must be
post marked or e-mailed by Fri-
day, August 24 to be consid-
ered. Please contact the Pro-
gram Coordinator at 503-947-
6259 if you have further ques-
tions about the position.
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